Jamie Jones: Changes online, in print

Published 6:58 am Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Daily Citizen today began limiting access to some stories on our free website, www.daltonnow.com, following a trend of newspapers across the country.

Subscribers to The Daily Citizen’s print edition can gain access to all stories by contacting the newspaper office for your login to our digital edition. You can still access the entire newspaper and read every story online. Restricted stories to non-subscribers include most staff-bylined news articles, staff-written editorials, sports stories and sports columns. The area arrest report is no longer posted online. All restricted stories will eventually appear on www.daltonnow.com.

Visitors to the newspaper’s website can still read local columnists, submitted articles, obituaries, news from other sources such as The Associated Press and much more completely free of charge as soon as we post them.

Newspapers from coast to coast, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, are charging for access to their online news in some form. Most newspapers are attempting to offset falling revenues. Some newspapers have toyed with rigid “paywalls” that allow little to no access to information on their websites while others have taken what is called a “porous” approach that limits free access.

The first line of each restricted story will now appear on The Daily Citizen website. After clicking on the story, you are taken to another webpage. Below the story’s first line is a link that reads, “Click here to read the full story. (Digital Edition subscription required).” The link takes you to the digital edition sign-in page or to the actual digital edition if you are logged in as a current subscriber.

Cost of the digital edition varies from $2 for a 48-hour pass to $60 for a one-year subscription. Subscribers to the print edition receive the digital edition as part of their subscription package. To subscribe or to receive your login if you are a print subscriber please call (706) 217-6397 or visit www.daltonnow.com.

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One year ago today, Georgia’s controversial immigration law went into effect. At the time, many Hispanics living in Dalton — both legally and illegally — expressed anxiety and fear about how the new law would impact their lives.

The Daily Citizen tackled the subject in June 2011 with a five-part series titled “An Uncertain Future.” The series was well-received, both in the community and in journalism circles.

One year later, we are examining the law’s effect. As you can read in today’s paper, results so far have been mixed. Anecdotal evidence suggests some Hispanics have left Dalton, but pinning that completely on the new law might not be fair. The floundering floorcovering industry has shed hundreds of jobs during the same time, forcing many Hispanics to leave town in search of jobs.

With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on Arizona’s immigration law and President Barack Obama’s easing enforcement of the nation’s immigration law, debate on the subject doesn’t appear to be dying down anytime soon.

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Staff turnover at a small newspaper is inevitable. The pay isn’t great, the hours are long and many journalists don’t stay long. They use smaller newspapers as a springboard to a larger outfit.

Since June 1999, I’ve seen more than 50 staff members come through The Daily Citizen. Editors, news editors, section editors, city editors, designers, reporters, photographers, etc.

On Friday, I’ll say goodbye and good luck to another.

Reporter Mark Millican has accepted a job as the editor of the Times-Courier in Ellijay. He’s worked for The Daily Citizen since May 2008. He’s spent most of his time on the demanding cops and courts beat. It’s a high-profile position that demands getting every detail right every time. Mark has contributed local columns to our editorial page.

Mark came to us as veteran writer and newspaperman. He’s certainly honed his craft, winning several writing awards from The Associated Press and Georgia Press Association during the past four years.

In addition to being a solid writer, Mark has served as a great sounding board. He has also become a good friend. I’ll miss listening to his old Marine stories or hearing about his latest jog through Edwards Park.

He will be difficult to replace, both professionally and personally.

Mark was born in Whitfield County, raised in Whitfield County and lives in Whitfield County.

I hope one day he returns to work in Whitfield County. Preferably at The Daily Citizen.

Dalton native Jamie Jones is co-city editor of The Daily Citizen.