IT was certainly a different world when I wandered into the Manning River Times newsroom for the first time as an employee back in January 1979.
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There were no computers. We used typewriters and copy paper and back then knowing how to type wasn't a given. I had to attend a once-a-week course at Taree Technical College (now TAFE) to learn the intricacies of typing.
Computers were still relatively new in newspapers and were used almost exclusively in production. That forced management to install air conditioning - not for the benefit of the employees, but to protect the software.
But even in production the old ways weren't totally made redundant. The number of classified ads for the next edition was measured using string, so the required number of pages could be allocated. It was remarkably precise.
Those memories came flooding back earlier this week in what was a frustrating few days caused by the internet being down (apparently the official terminology). No internet meant very little work was possible in the 2021 version of the Times' newsroom. We had to hotspot on our mobile phones. A mobile phone in 1979 was one thrown across the room by an irate journo (that occasionally happened).
Nothing much stopped the news back in 79, unless we ran out of copy paper. Parley Collier dropped in every six months or so to give the typewriters a going over, and on and on we went. Nearly 50 years down the track and all it takes is for the internet to go on the blink.
Nothing like progress, is there.
Mick McDonald
Acting editor
EIGHTY candidates are vying for the 11 places on MidCoast Council in the December 4 local government elections.
Nominations have been received from 13 groups. This will be the second election since MidCoast Council was formed following the amalgamation of the Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester councils.
Journalists across our network of regional newspapers in NSW have been giving the tier of local government a bit of a health check.
We are interested in what grassroots issues matter to residents outside of the big cities, in our regional towns and villages.
When you go to the polls on December 4, will you be concerned about the makeup of your council?
We crunched the numbers on diversity in local government and spoke to some trailblazers among women councillors, indigenous councillors and young councillors.
Disturbingly, there are several councils in, or recently out, of administration, an exercise that comes at great cost to the community both in terms of dollars and public trust.
We took a look at three case studies, retracing the troubled path of democracy at Wingecarribee, Armidale and Port Macquarie Hastings councils.
We also question what standards of behaviour we expect in the council chambers, after this video of some unseemly behaviour at Bega Valley Shire Council went viral.
People will be encouraged to vote via pre-poll and mail to meet COVID safety, but here's how to vote if you are not fully vaxxed.
At the end of a tumultuous couple of years, and with dramatic events in the State and federal arenas stealing the headlines, it can be hard to adjust our gaze to matters closer to home.
We'll do our best to bring you as much information as we can to make sure we all have the best representation we can beyond December 4.