By Lonny Cain
Outgoing NINA President

Education clearly is the key word that defines the purpose and mission of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association. Workshops, conferences, contests, and student scholarships all provide an opportunity to improve ourselves and our newspapers.

Students and working journalists have much to gain by participating and joining NINA. I would like to suggest, however, that there is another key word that holds us together and helps define our purpose. Community.

We have our own community, a common bond that pulls us together as friends and journalism professionals. We love the good story, the compelling photo and the ink on the page. And we all work for a common master, our own communities.

NINA members are made up of newspapers that cover a range of circulations, daily and weekly, but we all dance to the beat of the same drum that defines our primary focus: local-local-local. We target specific communities and do what we can to reflect the lives and culture and heartbeat of those communities.

Look at the stories and photos that take away NINA prizes each year. In some ways, we've seen them before. Many stories are retreads. What gives them strength, besides the quality of writing and photo work, are the local faces and names they highlight and display. NINA not only is honoring reporters, photographers and editors, but also is recognizing the significance of the community newspaper.

We touch lives. Simple as that. And we love being part of the process. Simple as that.

In some ways, the Sept. 11 attack on America was an excellent reminder of the importance of community newspapers and the role they play. The national media owned the play-by-play on the attack, but small-town America turned to their community newspaper to grieve and sound off and offer a helping hand.

During my involvement with NINA I also have come to recognize the grand community we work within. I have been moved more than once by the dedication and camaraderie I have seen in fellow journalists. All of NINA's programs come together thanks to the time and talent of many volunteers.

Moreover, NINA continues to offer affordable workshops and conferences because many speakers offer their services free or for expenses only. More than once, I have called on an expert in the biz and he or she has not hesitated to say they'd be there. In fact, they were excited and honored to be part of our programs.

This was a rough year, though, for the newspaper community. The economy has hit many newsrooms across the country, and northern Illinois was no exception. Our members and the NINA board felt the impact of cutbacks and buyouts.

For that reason, our mission to provide affordable training workshops has become more important. And so has the challenge for each of us to cover the informational needs of the communities we serve. Therefore, as we begin a new year, NINA remains resolved to help and work for the many community newspapers we represent.

Lonny Cain is managing editor of the Daily Times in Ottawa. Contact him at (815) 433-2000, or lonnyc@ottawadailytimes.com.