Comments by kcooper
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Posted on March 9 at 10:05 a.m.
Stliz,
I have no agenda beyond improving our community.
In answer to your question: We say positive things about all aspects of Natchez, not just black history.
As for the "face off" ... I did not intend for my invitation to seem like a challenge or construed as a duel.
Rather I've found that meeting face to face, instead of trying to communicate back and forth by "comment," is a more productive way to find common ground and quickly get to the heart of the issue.
I offered a similar invitation to OldGrandDad (who I mention because he's on this thread) and another commenter a few months ago.
They both took me up on my offer and we had a nice lunch and learned a bit about one another, eventually (I think) finding out that we had lots of things in common.
If you'd prefer not to meet, that's OK. I understand that some people are more comfortable sharing opinions anonymously.
Perhaps you don't live here thus a meeting would not be easily feasible. Since I asked that earlier and you chose not to answer, my guess is that may be the case.
Either way, all opinions are welcome.
I think, however, you may just be seeking an argument, and I don't wish to continue that as it seems counterproductive.
Have a nice day.
thanks.
Kevin.
Posted on March 8 at 6:32 p.m.
@Natchez1: "Everyone in Natchez showed pride in Natchez and worked together to bring people here. That has changed."
That's perhaps the most troubling (but perhaps most truthful) statement I've seen posted on here in quite a while.
How can we change that? How can we bring together everyone (and all of the diverse groups) to focus on better marketing and more cohesive planning and promoting?
Thanks.
Kevin.
Posted on March 8 at 6:28 p.m.
<continued>
The mp3 player tour isn't a new idea. I never suggested it was. It's just one that (to my knowledge) has never been explored here. If we really wanted to be cutting edge, maybe we'd use some kind of video-capable computer tablet. I'd be happy to help record any such thing. Unfortunately, I have a voice for newspapers rather than radio. :)
You seem also upset that our newspaper (like other businesses) seeks to make a profit -- I say that because you've referenced it twice.
That's a requirement if we're to survive, pay our taxes, pay more than $1 million in annual payroll and tens of thousands in donations to local causes. I'm not ashamed that we make a profit. Our talented team works extremely hard to put out the best newspaper and Web sites we can. Our local businesses feel like we're doing a good job of getting their marketing messages out to the public. If they didn't, they'd go elsewhere.
If you live here in the area, I'd be happy to meet with you, face to face. Just shoot me an e-mail at kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com. I bet we'd find that we have more in common than you might think. I think the first among those is that we both care about Natchez and its future. If we start at that point, the conversation is bound to be valuable.
Thanks.
Kevin.
Posted on March 8 at 6:27 p.m.
Torano: Thanks. Yes, I was focusing on things that might generate some money for either the garden clubs, the cemetery or some local entrepreneur. The NPS folks are great and a huge resource for us, but it's not really their mission to turn a profit.
StLiz: Yes, Pilgrimage at the moment is about architecture, but for most individual tourists (those not part of a bus group) it's focused mostly on antebellum houses. Our city has much more to offer, from the downtown merchant buildings, to great, old school buildings to amazing houses of worship. We touch on this in the little self-guided walking tours of downtown that we publish in the Natchez Visitor's Guide. But having an audio version would be much more effective and could delve much deeper into the topics.
From what I can see, our tourists are increasingly more likely to drive themselves to Natchez and map out their own itinerary than being part of formal bus tour. That's a hunch based on my own experience rather than a study based on fact.
If I'm correct, though, we could do more to show off what we have available to individual tourists. I think this is a bit generational, too. Younger people are more apt to want to go out on their own and explore rather than participate in a group event.
Through the past 18 years or so, I've been inside almost every Pilgrimage house that's been on tour and accompanied a bunch of groups touring Natchez as well -- from school children to elder hostel groups.
I don't understand why it's somehow wrong for a newspaper publisher (or any other citizen who lives in our community for that matter) to throw out some different ideas? Why does suggesting we improve ourselves m
On your question of "Am I jaded?" That's probably a question that others should answer, not me. I don't think I'm jaded, but who knows. :)
I guess if I was jaded, I wouldn't have suggested we try to improve anything in the first place. I'd have just thrown up my hands and ignored the tourism industry here.
You're correct about The Southern Road to Freedom. It is amazing and on the list of "must sees" for any visitor. I've been and always recommend it to guests coming to town. However, to imply that it's enough to tell the full story of our community's black heritage isn't accurate in my opinion.
There's much, much more there. And we need to tell it. It's not just "black history" it's Natchez's history.
<more in the next comment>
Posted on March 8 at 11:16 a.m.
All (but in particular to StLiz):
My comments were not meant to imply the current state of tourism was poor or that the folks who built our area's tourism base from nothing to where it is now do not deserve thanks. They most certainly do.
My point (perhaps poorly communicated as I'm not a great writer) was simply to focus (and wonder a bit) on how much better our "story" could be for tourists.
Not everyone wants to come to Natchez to hammer through six houses a day. More flexible ticket options combined with other (non-house tour) options to keep tourists busy should be our focus.
We should be figuring out ways to appeal to the customers we do not yet have. Doing that doesn't have to harm the existing, core customers.
OldGrandDad's thoughts on the two Ps (parking and potties) are good ones. As is the need he points out for better, more clear signage to help direct visitors.
How much could Spring Pilgrimage be maximized if we offered a different, perhaps weekly, focus? Imagine week no. 1 is on architecture, week no. 2 is on black history, weekly no. 3 the Natchez City Cemetery, etc.?
Imagine downtown architectural (and even city cemetery) self-guided walking tours, in which visitors pay a small charge to rent an MP3 player loaded with an audio tour. That type of thing is very common in larger museums and historic sites.
How cool would it be for visitors to be able to hear former city cemetery director Don Estes walk them through a guided tour of the cemetery? Self-guided tours would seem relatively low-cost. Get a credit card number at registration so that if someone doesn't run the player or damages it, it's covered.
The cemetery is so filled with history that you could have multiple "channels" from which to choose? 1). An overview of the cemetery and some of the more interesting historical figures buried there; 2). A tribute to the military heroes buried there; 3). The lesser-known, but equally interesting "regular" folks buried there.
Again, my point wasn't to disrespect or ignore what is going on and has gone on in tourism planning, but just to wonder: How much better could it be? The only way to do that, as cliche as it may seem, is to put our collective heads together.
On the pink edition, the newspaper decided several years ago (late 1980s perhaps?) to stop printing it on pink newsprint. I'm not sure the exact reason, probably just to make the photographs easier to see.
Once upon a time, the edition was distributed in every copy of the newspaper. Through the years, we realized it was more effective for local advertisers to distribute this through other avenues. Doing this was more effective for them and allowed us to keep costs down (for ad customers and for us).
Copies are still available at a number of locations in town, most visibly the Natchez Visitor Reception Center on Canal Street.
I hope this helps explain my thoughts a bit better. Thanks (to all) for reading us.
thanks.
Kevin.
Posted on February 18 at 12:13 p.m.
@mamatj: As clarification, Christina Hall led the meeting as a representative of the hospital's employees. Quoting her in the article was the only way to explain what went on at the meeting.
Also, she is not an employee of The Natchez Democrat. She is a long-time contributor of lifestyle columns, but is not an employee.
Thanks.
Kevin.
On NRMC staff urges county to be informed before selling hospital
Posted on February 14 at 5:53 p.m.
@fraidoclowns: Thanks for the catch ... Obviously I missed that one. Corrected it above. :)
Posted on January 31 at 8:43 a.m.
Skippydammit: I think there are typically seven or eight newspapers in Mississippi which compete in our contest category.
Most are a little larger than us. These would include: Meridian, Vicksburg, Columbus, McComb, Greenville, etc.
thanks.
Kevin.
Posted on January 16 at 10:03 a.m.
That's a good point and, effectively, the regionalism group has been doing that. The group has been meeting regularly for the past six months or so locally.
Sometimes, however, building a team can be best accomplished by getting folks out of their usual environment and the distractions that come along with that environment. Getting that much focused time together almost by necessity would require a trip.
Plus, you got the added benefit of seeing how another group (the Tupelo region) has focused on changing their community. Taking such a trip has multiple "good" benefits.
Thanks.
Kevin.
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Posted on March 9 at 11:51 a.m.
My apologies Natchez1.
You're invited, too. Happy to oblige. :)
On Tourism still alive in Natchez