Lately I’ve been spending my time working on the interagency newspaper “Reflections” that is handed out at the American Fork and Aspen Grove Entrance stations. This newspaper allows people coming here a chance to read about the canyon and the agencies that help manage these lands. Because public lands belong to the people of the United States, we try to produce a newspaper that has something for everyone who reads it. In this blog, I thought I would give a little glimpse of what leads to that end result.
The process started last November as officials from the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service met to decide the topics for the newspaper articles. Writing assignments were made and the search for photographs to fit the articles began. Articles about volunteers, places to go, and wildflowers mix with a Kids Fun page, information about passes, and a forest map.
By the end of January, articles were written and layout and spacing began. Throughout February, re-writing of articles and re-sizing articles to fit available space continues. Additional photographs and other touches make the first rough draft printable, so it can be reviewed by more sets of eyes. (It is usually about this time I wonder how people produce a newspaper every day, but then I remember newspaper agencies have a big staff of journalism professionals.)
By March, several different people from both the Pleasant Grove Ranger District and Timpanogos Cave National Monument will have made recommendations for the final product. Alterations are made, edits put into place, and tweaks for spacing adjusted to make the final product ready for the printer.
When I write, I share a piece of myself, creating content from nothing, to draw pictures with words that will evoke emotion. I can only assume it is the same for other contributors. As you read the Reflections newspaper this summer, you are reading a piece of us, where an interagency effort joins two agencies with different mandates in one canyon and a shared message. We hope you will enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed its creation.