Dunfermline Press subscribers were given the chance to put questions to the editor - whether it was about a local issue, our news coverage, how we make decisions or what makes the newsroom tick.
Being the editor used to just mean deciding what we would tell readers in print, but now journalism can be a two-way conversation. So we opened the floor to subscribers to ask about the stories we cover and our role in our community.
One of the questions asked was:
'How often do you quiz the council about the sorry state of the roads?'
Obviously, there have been many complaints about the roads in Dunfermline and West Fife, particularly over the huge number of potholes and the apparent failure of Fife Council to carry out repairs in a timely manner and to a decent standard.
Currently, the stories about the state of the roads feature in our newspaper and on the website on a weekly basis, and we're therefore quizzing council officials or representatives on a weekly basis too, whether that be about the policy for filling potholes, or the problems posed in a particular street.
I suspect this is likely to continue for some time, as more and more people complain about the condition of our roads.
Here's some of the more general questions posed:
How do you balance publishing local stories against more national/general stories?
Our priority is, first and foremost, to cover issues affecting Dunfermline and West Fife, and that's the main focus of our reporters. It's their job to cover the news and sport locally, along with writing local features and supporting the local community.
We will also look at general or national stories which we think will have an impact on the local area, and occasionally publish a few general stories on the website which we hope readers might enjoy or provide important information.
Out website includes sections for National News, National Sport, and Trending Across Scotland, but these are not produced by the local reporting team.
Do your journalists get out and about to report on stories or are they stuck behind desks?
I prefer our reporters to get out to report on stories, and generally, they will do when possible. If we're working to a tight deadline, reporters are more likely to conduct interviews by phone or obtain information by email.
Do you try to be ‘neutral’, or do/will you, as a local paper, help fight for local issues?
We'll try to push for what's best for Dunfermline and West Fife, so on issues such as calls for A&E services at Queen Margaret Hospital or the need for better leisure facilities, we'll highlight the issues from the point of view of our local community. That's not to say that we won't report the comments or opinions of those who have different views, but our aim is to represent Dunfermline and West Fife, and the people who live here.
Thank you to those who took part in this Q&A. If you have further questions or comments about the Dunfermline Press newspaper or our website, please email editorial@dunfermlinepress.co.uk or see the contact information on our website.
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