Please keep your stories coming

Four years ago we started a push for what we call 'community journalism,” stories not only about your interests and passions, but stories written by you.

I started this project with a simple question: What's your story?

We weren't sure what the endeavor would bring or, quite frankly, how long in would last.

But here were are after another long football season bringing back our 'Your Page,” where these stories have found a home since Dec. 18, 2011.

Sunday was or 116th 'Your Page.”

Along the way, we've read some great tales by some wonderful writers and learned about different endeavors, like our ongoing series from Daren Shumaker, who with Dennis Lee, forms Team 99 Counties. The two had a very busy 2014, crossing 20 counties - so far. Today we are running No. 66, and I have three more ready to go in coming weeks.

We had a baseball history lesson last summer from Bill Johnson on the old M&J League, which ruled in Cedar Rapids for many years. We've shared running and golf tips with you, as well as health and fitness articles to keep you moving and, hopefully, healthy.

Our hope, of course, is you've enjoyed these articles, maybe learned a few things and, most of all, were entertained. We also hope we've given some aspiring writers a vehicle to share their stories with a large audience.

As we inch closer to 2015, I'd like to see even more stories from an even larger pool of contributors. Become one of our story tellers and share your tales with the our readers in Eastern Iowa and, thanks to www.thegazette.com, beyond.

So, what's your story?

lll

The other part of our community push is our high school journalism program, something we started during the 2011-12 school year.

This is a program I take great pride in and, like the community endeavor, something we didn't know what the expect.

The response from many of the high schools in Eastern Iowa has been fantastic, sometimes overwhelming.

This school year I've visited 17 high schools, spreading the word that good journalism is not dead and encouraging students to write and share their stories and photographs with our audience.

There is a lot of talent in Eastern Iowa high schools and it's not just on the fields or courts.

Like in past years, we have incentives for these students. We are giving away three Kindle Fire tablets, three iTune gift cards and two $500 scholarships.

If you are interested in either of these program, please contact me at the email below.

l Comments: (319) 3368-8696; jr.ogden@thegazette.com