LIMA — While journalism and media help people get a better view of the world, the roles were reversed for members of this year’s Allen Lima Leadership class Friday as they got an insider’s perspective of Lima’s radio, television and print media.
The group of aspiring community leaders in the public and private sectors toured Childers Media Group, Your Hometown Lima Stations and The Lima News during the class’ media day. Each tour provided the opportunity for participants to get a first-hand look at how media organizations work behind the scenes.
“We always try to offer interesting peeks into places, but this day is just really fun for us,” ALL executive director Heather Rutz said. “At Childers Media this morning, they put us on the radio to do some silly trivia contest. At the TV station, we watched in the studio for part of the noon news broadcast. I know people love looking at the printing press and how that works here at the paper, too.”
Having a background in journalism, this event is important to Rutz, who maintained that learning what goes into journalism and media production not only helps participants get a better understanding of the news, but it also helps them become better citizens.
“So much of what is happening in the media landscape is just eye-opening in understanding the consequences of technology and the internet,” she said. “It helps people understand the way things work and how they can be better users of [media]. I’m always an advocate of people reading the news critically, being able to dissect it and ask questions.”
One of the members of the ALL class, Allison Stehlick of Area Agency on Aging 3, found the tour and presentations at the media outlets very enlightening, especially when it comes to print media.
“I think it’s a common misconception that print media is going out,” she said. “Apparently, it’s more alive than ever, and that surprised me.”
Seth Bowersock of Allen County Children Services appreciates how local media can keep people in touch with the local community, an ability that national media outlets lack.
“You have people who may have moved out of Lima who can come back and still learn about what’s going on in their hometown,” he said. “That’s very convenient.”
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