Why it's becoming more and more all about you

The pitch that came to Assistant City Editor Anne Halston was probably not unlike hundreds she has gotten in her 13 years as an editor at the Daily Herald.

It went something like, "We have a group of 13 people who get up at 5:30 a.m. on weekends to train for a 3-day, 60-mile walk. We're trying to raise $35,000 to fight breast cancer. Can you do a story on this?"

In the old days -- and by that I mean two or three years ago -- Anne's answer might have been, "Sure, I'll send a reporter and photographer." Or perhaps, "Sorry, we're kinda booked up with other things."

Today, the truth is we have fewer people in our newsroom and just as many, if not more, requests for coverage. We've had to get inventive, and -- as I promised in last week's column -- here's where you come in, gentle reader.

Anne's answer to Winfield's Gaelic & Garlic team (so named because half their members are Irish and the others of Italian descent) was: How would some of the team members feel about writing short essays on why they're dong the walk? Oh, and could you send us a photo of yourselves?

They did, and the result was a presentation on the front page of the May 14 Neighbor section. The essays were written by friends and the husband of Charisse Allegretti, who died of cancer in January. She inspired family and friends to walk this year in her honor. The essays, Anne and I noted, may have been more poignant and moving than what a busy reporter could to do on the fly.

That's just one example of our foray into what the industry now calls "citizen journalism." Here's some other things we're doing:

• Photo contest. Everyone, it seems, has picture-taking ability these days, and many people take it seriously. Several months ago, we debuted "Photo Finish" a contest for amateur photographers. Our photo director, Scott Sanders, judges the contest, and Anne writes a story about the winner we name each month. (Quick plug: Submit your photos in at least 300 dpi resolution and e-mail to ssanders@dailyherald.com.)

• All about animals. Kerry Vinkler, DuPage County animal control director, started a new column with us last week -- based on readers' questions. She delved into the sticky matter of what parents should do with the pet a child begged for but no longer wishes to care for. Next week, Kerry takes on coyotes, literarily, not literally, of course.

• Also last week, bird-watching expert Jeff Reiter debuted his column on birding. It will appear monthly.

• Meet the principal. A series of questions, presented in Q&A format, to our high school principals. The questions range from the serious -- What's your education philosophy in one sentence? -- to the less so: What is your dream vacation?

• Lend a hand. A concept of Assistant City Editor Christie Willhite, it allows not-for-profit and service groups to talk a little, again, in a Q&A format, about the work they do in the community.

I don't want to overlook the freelance community columnists, some of whom really are the face of the Daily Herald in the communities they write about for us. One reason they're so effective is because of their unabashed love of the towns where they live. Two great examples are Stephanie Penick in Naperville and Joan Broz in Lisle.

In spite of all the efforts -- and your help -- there still are going to be things we're just not going to get to, times when our news judgment might not quite mesh with yours. But if you feel like you can't be involved with the Daily Herald, it could be because you haven't asked.