It's All About The Mountain

Maureen Brown: Sun Valley Idaho

                          My local paper is the Idaho Mountain Express ("The Express") which services a small community of 11,000 permanent residents. Sun Valley is primarily a ski resort and hosts skiers from around the world. The local economy is based on serving these tourists who visit Sun Valley to ski. Not surprisingly, the front page of the Express primarily deals with Bald Mountain, affectionately referred to as "Baldy" which hovers over the area and serves as the primary ski hill for the valley.

                          Baldy Snowpack Still Near Record Low boasts the primary headline. The article goes on to give hope to local merchants that this weather pattern will change, more snow is in our future which will entice tourists to their local businesses.

                          Baldy Lift Terminal Destroyed By Fire heralds another article. Baldy is the ski mountain and apparently a fire destroyed a lift on the mountain, a fact avid skiers would want to read about.

                          On the Podium Merely By a Boot boasts another front page article. The 39th running of the SWIX Boulder Mountain Ski Tour took place this past weekend. The men's winner was a Colorado skier who beat a local Sun Valley resident by a mere boot across the finish line.

                          Hailey Police Chase Leads To Felony Arrest The front page closes with a thrill. Sun Valley has very little crime and so a police chase that ends with catching a wanted man from Boise is pretty exciting for our little town. Understandably, this article made the front page.


                          The front page of The Express is hopeful, probably intentionally. It clearly wants local merchants and permanent residents to believe that more prosperous times are ahead with more snow which will lure tourists to the valley. It's articles speak to matters affecting its readers, members of the local community.