MORE INFORMATION FOR NEWSPAPER READERS

With today's edition, the Southeast Missourian began printing the names and phone numbers of page editors at the top of most pages.

The idea is to give readers another way to contact our staff if they have questions about the way we've handled the news.

There are several steps in getting a story from the community into our newspaper. Reporters go to the scene and conduct interviews. They write the stories and turn them over to the editors, who check for clarity, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

The editors also write headlines and arrange stories and photos on our pages. The men and women whose names are listed at the tops of our pages are ultimately responsible for our presentation, and they deserve the praise or criticism that comes with that responsibility.

Certainly, reporters are responsible for the factual information in their stories. They are on the scene, they know what happened, and they should get it right every time. Questions about stories should be addressed to them. Their e-mail addresses and phone numbers are at the bottom of the stories they write.

And, of course, the staff members listed at the bottom of page 2 in every edition welcome your questions and input as we strive to better our product.