Dear Media, Give Me Less Noise and More Feeling

Hurry! Before someone else covers the fireworks! Get it published! We need to be first!

I grew up in Lake County. I believe your hometown is a lot like your parents: you may get tired of them when you're young, you may want to move away, but you'll always love them.

Lake County has grown. Some are delighted, some hate it, but let's be honest, most people think "It is what it is" and move on. It's the vocal minority that we're all forced to listen to. Think back to the library issues between Libertyville and Vernon Hills. Was it a big issue? No. It was an issue. But because a few people started yelping about it, it looked like it was.

Reporters will go where people rant and moan the most. Steal money, make backdoor deals and change your vote on the board and reporters won't even see it. Scream in the middle of Milwaukee Avenue that the soccer team needs new uniforms and every publication will come running.

Some say the media is overworking itself because they're trying to outdo their competition. Maybe. I see people like Korrina (Patch), Jake and Josh (Herald) around town and they look tired. I follow what they write, and a lot of times it's good.

Other times it's not. But you're not going to win awards with every story.

But in this day of seeing who can get it first, publish it first and even write the craziest headline first, wouldn't it be great to see someone slow down, talk to the people in town and get it right? Get it interesting? Get meaningful?