After Deadline
Readers encouraged to share 'good news'
By John E. Simonds
Advertiser Reader Representative
The Advertiser's Faith page on Saturday and 'Ohana section on Sunday are bringing weekend newspapers and readers closer together. The pages featuring spiritual and family life are busily interactive in providing renewed ways to share experiences of hope.
Both are edited by Esme Infante Nii as part of the Advertiser family of feature sections under the direction of Features editor Wanda Adams. (Others include Island Life, TGIF, Taste, Click and Travel.) Both go to great lengths to honor Hawai'i's diversity and help provide a voice for all of the community.
Saturday's Faith pages offer "Expressions of Faith," a weekly chance to share beliefs or "an anecdote that reveals something about the nature of faith," discuss a faith-related issue or a project that might offer lessons for others — in less than 600 words.
The Faith Calendar reflects the range of community life in which spiritual groups are involved. Besides religious services and classes, faith organizations list programs of healing and support; help for recovering people; counseling for loss, anger and alienation; classes for kids, dance, yoga and annual lu'au.
The Advertiser's "Where We Worship" articles have helped revive the newspaper's pursuit of spiritual and community matters that dates back at least to 1959 when the late Buck Buchwach and others wrote a yearlong series of personalized articles that ran Mondays under the title "A Stranger Goes to Church."
Buchwach, Advertiser managing editor and, later, executive editor and editor in chief, portrayed the life, personalities and concerns of more than 30 Hawai'i religious groups and received national recognition, including a World Brotherhood award, for his efforts.
It was an early example of community journalism resonating today in the Saturday Faith pages of The Advertiser. "Where We Worship" spotlights a faith organization each week, reporting on its history, beliefs and programs.
To nominate an organization for a "Where We Worship" profile, write or e-mail The Advertiser (faith@honoluluadvertiser.com), describing the activities and distinguishing characteristics of the organization.
Faith page (and 'Ohana section) writer Zenaida Serrano Espanol has done features on 15 different groups and is busy pursuing others. Variety of spiritual life is a strength of Hawai'i, and the sequence of the articles seeks to reflect that, says Nii. The Faith page welcomes requests for coverage and participation from a wide spectrum, Nii says, and is not limited to traditional groups.
The Faith page typically works on three weeks' lead time for expressions columns. Contributors should plan on up to 10 days of back-and-forth time to complete the editing process before publication. Calendar items should be in 10 days before publication.
Sunday's 'Ohana section, launched May 7, 2000, provides further coverage of family news, including alphabetized photos of new babies with their names and parents listed, news and pictures of newlyweds, photos of round-numbered-anniversary and special birthday celebrants and write-ups of engagements, achievers and family calendar items. Monthly notices about volunteers (first Sunday) and reunions (last Sunday) are also included.
Focusing on family, health and community, 'Ohana provides a welcome home for items of reader interest that many newspapers had abandoned in recent decades. That coverage is coming back, and The Advertiser's 'Ohana section has been a leader in the return.
"Sharing good news in 'Ohana is free," headlined a notice last Sunday. Forms for placing wedding, baby and other announcements in 'Ohana are available online, at the News Building information desk, or by calling 535-8174.
'Ohana requires official documents for birth, wedding, engagement and achiever announcements. State birth certificates are a must for babies. Newlyweds also need proof and are invited to include as little or as much information as the 'Ohana form requests.
For its "Fun House" feature, 'Ohana also seeks shorter written contributions from people with amusing or interesting family experiences. Stories of marriage or other relationships are in demand, along with regular calls for writings on specific topics.
Columns on wedding plans, health, childcare and lifestyles also occupy the pages. Addresses at the end of articles offer readers quick access to local and national writers. 'Ohana's a section that encourages families to spread the good news about themselves, their memories and plans.
