Veteran journalist Bert Etling to be hosted at SOU by Friends of Hannon Library

Bert Etling. Laurel Merchant photo
March 8, 2023

Ashland.news editor to speak on community journalism and ‘Sense of place’

Veteran journalist Bert Etling will speak about “Sense of Place: Community journalism’s role in mediating community identity,” Thursday, March 9, as part of the Friends of Hannon Library Speaker Series for the 2022-23 academic year.

Community papers have long played a central role in collecting, curating and distributing information that documents and shapes what’s going on in local areas, helping define and articulate what a community thinks of itself. Etling will discuss the transition of that role as newspapers adapt to an evolving media landscape. For journalists the question is “Who are we and what are we doing here?”

Bert Etling is a longtime community journalist and the executive editor of Ashland.news, a nonprofit, community news site launched in January 2022 in Ashland. Etling is also editor-in-chief of the Applegater, a community newsmagazine serving the Applegate Valley.

He previously edited the Ashland Daily Tidings from 2014 to 2019, leading a local news revival for the cherished community paper that saw a five-fold increase in local content and 30 percent increase in circulation. Before that, he edited The Cambrian, a weekly newspaper published by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, part of the McClatchy Corp.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 p.m. in the Southern Oregon University library’s Meese Room (No. 305).  A Zoom link will also be available on the Friends website.

Friends of Hannon Library was established in 1974 by a group of SOU librarians, faculty members and interested citizens to raise money and enrich the library’s collections. The organization sponsors a lecture series each year — this year bringing a total of six speakers to campus for talks on a variety of topics.

Metered parking is available for those visiting campus to attend the event in parking lots 1, 12, 29, 36, 37 and 41.

Those who need disability accommodations to participate in the event may contact SOU’s Disability Resources office at 541-552-6213. For more information on the event, contact Hannon Library staff at [email protected] or 541-552-6816.

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Break out the boats, Emigrant Lake has buffed up

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Rogue Theater Company Richard L Hay Center Cat on a hot tin roof Ashland Oregon
Ashland Community Composting Ashland Oregon
Literary Arts Oregon Book Awards Portland Center Stage at the Armory Portland Oregon

Latest posts

Break out the boats, Emigrant Lake has buffed up

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Rogue Valley Symphony Visit the Grand Canyon Medford Grants Pass Oregon
Southern Oregon Summer Camps and Activities Directory Ashland Medford Oregon
Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon

Explore More...

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 
The U.S. is currently engaged in a $1.7 trillion upgrade of its nuclear arsenal. SOU will be hosting a symposium on Friday April 25 called “The New Nuclear Arms Race,” to explore the dimensions and the implications of this nuclear upgrade and consider ways to oppose it.
Learn about the lives of Ashland pioneers who are buried at the Ashland Cemetery, thanks to living volunteers who will portray them.... Tombstone Tales takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 14.
Supporters of imprisoned wildland firefighter Brian “Hakiym” Simpson and a defense attorney who represented him in court are sending an almost 3,000-signature petition and letter to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, urging her to exonerate the 42-year-old and have him released from prison.
The Rogue Valley Symphony recently revealed the lineup for its 2025-26 season and it starts out with a bang — a weeklong festival of three concerts in late August at Medford’s Craterian Theater, featuring the debut of the symphony's newly acquired 9-foot Hamburg Steinway grand piano, the Raven.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.