HISTORIC TRIANGLE — “Ten Questions with” is a series that allows readers to get to know local business leaders, volunteers and community members in the Historic Triangle.
This week, meet WYDaily’s own Chris Six.
What is your job title and description?
Managing Digital Editor — WYDaily.
Who do you interact/work with on a regular basis?
In the office, my team of three reporters, our sales staff, Tide morning host Andy Harris, Market President Derek Mason, and company leadership. In the Historic Triangle, I interact with community leaders, businesses, chambers, media representatives, and in general anyone who approaches us with a story to tell.
How does the WYDaily staff interact with the community?
Our entire news staff lives in the Historic Triangle, so not only are they always on the hunt for a good story, they are active members of the community. They attend events, are members of area organizations, shop at local businesses, and eat at local restaurants. If we see something in our travels and it spurs us to ask one of those basic questions — who, what, where, when, why or how — that’s a story. Always ask questions. That’s our M.O. And we are always taking pictures.
WYDaily also cosponsors events like Strictly Business and SpeedQuizzing, where you can see staff in person, and more ideas are in the works. And, we are always interested in opportunities to meet with readers, and particularly students, to talk about the importance of community journalism.
The easiest way to bring something to our attention is to send us a tip or press release at info@wydaily.com.
What is something about your job most people wouldn’t know about?
There are two things that come to mind. Firstly, we are a digital newspaper, we do not have a print edition. While that can sometimes be confusing to readers, it benefits us in a couple of ways. We do not have the enormous printing or distribution expenses of a traditional newspaper — things that can cost thousands of dollars weekly. Instead, we can invest those resources into our newsgathering operation, meaning more boots on the ground in the community. Secondly, it means we are a daily news operation. We have new stories going on our website, and into our daily email newsletter, seven days a week.
The other aspect that comes to mind is many may think we are simply an extension of the Tide or the sales team you may see at our events. While we are partners, WYDaily is an independent news operation. I have more than 30 years of experience in journalism, and my job is to ensure our objectivity and that our work meets professional industry standards.
How do you define success?
Professionally, if what we do makes a difference, we have succeeded. More personally, happiness. As they say, find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Or as I say, you are going to spend the majority of your waking hours on the job, so you’d better like it. For me, that happiness doesn’t come from awards or money, it comes from work that is both important and fun, and WYDaily ticks those boxes.
What is your most successful accomplishment to date?
Over the last decade, I have become something of an advocate for community journalism — giving presentations, interviews on the radio, and writing columns — basically getting the word out to anyone and everyone who will listen. Though it may be in a small way, moving the needle in how people think regarding the need for community journalism is the most meaningful aspect of my work. Getting to do it every day in this community is icing on the cake.
What is your favorite part of living in the Historic Triangle?
We came down here for years as tourists, but what surprised us after moving here, and what quickly became our favorite part of being here, was just how much there is to do in this area that the tourists never get to or know about. Restaurants, activities, shops, and all the smaller museums. And we’ve just scratched the surface. We have a laundry list of things we want to try, if we can find the time.
What do you do for downtime/to relax?
I golf when I can get the time. I am a jazz musician and I am beginning to explore opportunities to play in the area as well as putting together my own thing. You might catch me at a jam session. And I love exploring all the hidden gems the area has to offer with my family.
Can you define community journalism? Why do you think community journalism is important?
Community journalism is the story of us — our friends and neighbors. We report about the new business in town, or the fundraiser for someone who may need assistance. We tell about the local organizations doing good, or about the students making waves in the schools. We tell about the big events coming up and things to do this weekend. And we also talk about the changes that may impact our lives as residents.
Community journalism is in a bad way in many parts of the country. Advertising has dwindled while production costs continue to rise. More and more newspapers are being bought up and stripped of their assets by hedge funds and conglomerates. And too often, papers shut down completely.
We call those places “news deserts.” Without someone to tell those stories, a sense of community is lost. Additionally, with no watchdog in place, it has been proven the cost of governance goes up.
At WYDaily, I think we have found a viable answer that makes economic sense. And we are part of the community — locals, and partners. Sometimes that means covering the good, sometimes the bad, and now and then, the ugly. But always, we are rooting for our community and have a vested interest in its success.
How can the local community reach out to WYDaily and share events/news?
Again, the easiest way to bring something to our attention is to send us a tip or press release at info@wydaily.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to bookmark WYDaily.com, where you can sign up for our free daily headlines email, submit your event to our free local events calendar, or purchase a subscription for full access to our website. And, if you find one of us in the wild, stop and say hello. We don’t bite.
Do you want to learn more about your community and the people that live and work in the Historic Triangle? We are looking for people with interesting jobs, super volunteers, or community leaders to showcase. Reach out to let us know if you (or someone you know) would like to be considered for Ten Questions.
