Editorial: Breakfast and your local read

When I was 6 years old, the phone rang at our Caroline Rd house on a winter Monday evening and, surprisingly, the call was for me.

It was my Aunty Janet telling me to look inside The Hawke's Bay Herald Tribune because there was a photo I would be interested in. It turned out that the newspaper's photographer had snapped me looking up at Hawke's Bay's Ranfurly Shield captain Kel Tremain as he left the field following another victory. I was trying to get his autograph but because I was so small he didn't see me.

A few years ago I went in search of that photo. I couldn't get a print, but I did get a photo of the newspaper page.

It portrayed to me the strength of a local paper - local history preserved, locals appearing in it.

How many of you have had similar experiences?

The Hawke's Bay Herald Tribune no longer exists, nor does The Daily Telegraph.

Times and titles do change in newspapers - they always have. And so does the way we publish.

In mid-March, Hawke's Bay Today will become a morning paper.

While some might mourn the end of the afternoon paper, I support the change.

Having started my media career on a morning paper nearly 25 years ago, I remember with fondness the feeling of completion offered by each daily cycle. For Hawke's Bay Today it will offer us an opportunity to provide faster access to stories of depth and importance - both in the paper and online. Each of our six issues per week will have a dedicated day to be produced, rather than over an afternoon and a frantic morning.

Regardless of morning or afternoon delivery, in fact regardless of the form of media, there are always limitations on what can be achieved - and I have worked in print, radio and television.

Obvious jokes like Hawke's Bay Yesterday are water off a duck's back. Does anyone really think any morning paper is updated five minutes before it is read? Or similarly an afternoon paper which hits the street at 11am? It is not possible given the logistics of printing and delivery. All delivered media products have gestation periods.

Our online operation at www.hbtoday.co.nz will now become even more crucial.

What I can guarantee will always underpin this business is a dedication to local stories about local people. Where else are you going to get that?