CdA Press reporter says goodbye

In a goodbye column, Keith Cousins/Coeur d’Alene Press comments:

I’ll never forget the morning I drove through my favorite Dutch Bros. location and was asked what I do at the newspaper. One of my stories was on the front page that day, so I simply pointed to my byline at the top of the stack of newspapers they give customers.

Upon seeing my byline, two of the “Broistas” — Lexi and Corey — retrieved a Sharpie and had me sign a copy for them.

Now, I likely will keep this memory with me forever because it was a rare moment when I felt like more of a rockstar than anything else in my career ever has, or probably ever will. But, as I prepare to say goodbye to the Coeur d’Alene Press and North Idaho, I am realizing there’s an important lesson about community journalism in there as well.

To truly thrive and excel in community reporting, you can’t just be a spectator relying on secondhand information. You have to get right into the mix and be a part of things. More here.