There was a time when reading the local newspaper over a cup of coffee before heading out to work was considered a Great American Tradition, right up there with neighborhood lemonade stands and Tupperware parties. Alas, America has evolved substantially in the past few decades, and the newspaper industry is no exception.
Now, more and more people rely on computers for work, play and education. And it seems we all have less time to do "idle" things like read the newspaper. In order to stay essential, newspapers are turning to the Internet to get their stories to increasingly savvy readers; the Enterprise is no exception.
Recent visitors to www.parkrapidsenteprise.com have been greeted by a new, dynamic Web site, much improved from our old site. Not only did the format get a makeover, but the content has been expanded, as well.
Our site now features several interactive sections, including "Talk about it," where readers can submit their opinions on various topics, and "areavoices.com," a spot for bloggers around the region. (For all you non-techies out there, "blog" is short for "Web log," and is basically an online diary.)
Online users can keep a constant eye on the weather, too, with an interactive radar map of the region, a list of current road conditions and real-time weather alerts.
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One can search through several years' worth of news with our archive feature (past stories are available for a small fee) and browse our photographers' best work in the photo gallery. Readers can also peruse the coming events calendar and even submit events of their own.
All these elements can be accessed for free; all we ask is you give us your name and e-mail address, along with some other basic information, so our friendly advertisers know to whom they're selling. (Don't worry - the information is kept completely confidential and will never be sold. We promise.)
But, as great as we think our new Web site is, we still don't love it as much as an old-fashioned print copy of the Enterprise. The newspaper brings you about three times more stories and photos than our Web site, plus the Agriculture, People and Church pages. And with a subscription, you can create your own news archive at home for free.
Besides, there's just something irreplaceable about the feeling of a fresh newspaper in your hands.
So don't drop your subscription just yet. But next time you venture online, check us out. We'd love to have you.
