As a reader of the newspaper, you may have noticed that we'vebeen publishing stories by reporters from other Ohio newspapers --including in today's sports section, where we've used stories aboutSaturday's Ohio State football game written by staff members at TheColumbus Dispatch.
On our Opinion pages, you have read our 'Eye on Ohio' feature,which provides analysis of the content of election campaigntelevision advertising. These pieces are being written by reportersat the Dispatch, Cleveland's Plain Dealer, The Cincinnati Enquirerand the Dayton Daily News.
Also, stories from Dayton Daily News reporters have shown up inother newspapers in the state.
What's going on here?
Ohio's major newspapers are working together to bring theirreaders -- and Web site users -- the best of what all of us produce.We've come to the realization that we have more to gain by workingtogether than by pretending we actually compete for readers inseparate areas of the state.
We believe this unprecedented cooperation gives readers more fortheir money -- and creates opportunities for better coverage. OhioState football coverage is a good example.
No one covers the Buckeyes as extensively as The ColumbusDispatch. It has numerous reporters and editors dedicated to OhioState football coverage, and its offices are just down the streetfrom Ohio Stadium and the OSU campus.
In exchange, The Columbus Dispatch counts on our Hal McCoy, ourCincinnati Reds writer, for its coverage of the team.
By sharing content, the newspapers can keep some of their folkscloser to home to cover stories.
But there are also some larger ideas and plans at work.
Editors of the eight largest newspapers in Ohio also have agreedto work together on coverage of this year's presidential campaign inthe state.
The idea is simple. By working together to cover the campaign, wecan make the candidates more accountable to Ohioans and demand thatthey address issues important to the Buckeye state in a substantivemanner. On Sunday alone, these newspapers have about 3.5 millionreaders -- and that's not counting our online audiences.
The 'Eye on Ohio' feature is an example of the power of workingtogether.
Reporters and editors from the newspapers track ads as they air,and then take turns studying and analyzing them for readers.
The huge numbers of ads that the campaigns and their supportersare airing make it impossible for any one newspaper to do all thiswork alone.
The campaigns know that inaccuracies or stretching the truth willbe pointed out to readers.
On another front, the newspapers will poll Ohioans this fall. Theidea is to highlight issues of importance to average Ohioans, andsee how well the presidential candidates are addressing theseconcerns.
On three Sundays this fall, the newspapers will work together topublish the results and bring Ohioans' voices to our pages -- and tothe attention of the candidates.
After all, Ohio will be important -- perhaps the most importantstate -- to electing the president.
It's time for us to talk a little louder -- and the newspapershave decided to help with that.
Kevin Riley is the editor of the Dayton Daily News. Contact himat (937) 225-2161 or kriley@coxohio.com.
Newspapers sharing political coverage
These eight newspapers will be working together on coverage ofthe presidential campaign in Ohio: Dayton Daily News The (Cleveland)Plain Dealer The Columbus Dispatch The Toledo Blade The CincinnatiEnquirer Akron Beacon Journal The Canton Repository The YoungstownVindicator
