Web-based news two weeks away from implementation

  • Published
  • By 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office staff
Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century is the force driving the "change train," and the Public Affairs Office is about to jump on for the ride. "Tickets" are available for anyone who'd like to ride along - simply by typing in the Web address and clicking "for a seat." 

Your one-stop news source is now located at www.malmstrom.af.mil. 

In October 2006, the Public Affairs Office took ownership of the external Web site and the content that appears within it, (shown to the right). In April, Col. Sandy Finan, 341st Space Wing commander, approved a proposal to cease publication of a hard copy newspaper. In May, an article appeared in the High Plains Warrior, outlining why the change was going to take place, and today, we are in the countdown mode with only two issues of the High Plains Warrior left to produce. 

"Our Air Force is transforming itself while simultaneously fighting a war. We have to find new and innovative ways to keep our Airmen informed," Colonel Finan said in the May article. 

Fans of the hard copy newspaper will still have a resource to rely on. 

The Great Falls Tribune will produce a weekly paper starting in August to replace the High Plains Warrior. The look will be similar and the content will be information taken from Public Affairs products posted to the Web site, from submissions by the Air National Guard and other military items of interest their editors deem appropriate. A preview of that new product will appear in the last issue of the Warrior, July 27, letting everyone know what to be looking for the following week. 

"The biggest thing we want to stress to Team Malmstrom is that we still want to know about your events and we still plan to do the same things we have always done to assist you in getting the word out," said Capt. Elizabeth Mathias, chief of public affairs. "Strictly working with the Web will just make all those things happen in a more timely fashion because my staff's hands won't be tied to meeting a newspaper contract deadline each week." 

Currently folks needing to get information into the High Plains Warrior rely on several different sources. Calling the office, e-mailing one of the staff members, stopping in to the office to tell them about an event or using one of the organizational e-mail accounts. 

"All of those avenues are still available to get us information for the Web, but we have established a new organizational e-mail account specifically for Web posting requests or to send story ideas to," said Valerie Mullett, chief of internal information. "The warrior@malmstrom.af.mil will remain active until August 1 to get information to us for the paper. The new account, web.news@malmstrom.af.mil replaces the Warrior account into the future." 

Another concept being implemented amongst the staff is beat reporting, Mrs. Mullett said. 

Each member of the internal information staff has been assigned specific organizations to cover and they will be out getting to know the people in those organizations looking not just for the obvious stories, but unique ones as well. 

"This is where the 'every Airman a communicator' application can have enormous impact," Mrs. Mullett said. "We want to tell your stories - mission related, hobby related, whatever story of interest might be out there - tell us about it so we can tell it to everyone else." 

Supervisors, think about the people on your team that work hard every day but never get the spotlight. Now is your chance to get their stories told or give them that pat on the back. 

Hidden athletic talents, musicians in our midst, artists whose canvases haven't been exposed, and all the wealth of other possible story ideas that await can only be written if a hint is dropped in the PA direction. 

"It is a time of change, but everyone on my staff is excited at the possibilities the future of public affairs holds for them," Captain Mathias said. "I am confident they will continue to do a terrific job covering Team Malmstrom's excellence and will step it up a notch along the way." 

The change train is still parked at the station right now, but it is getting closer every day to moving on down the tracks. 

Last call for "all aboard" comes July 27.


Public Affairs Staff
Chief:

Capt. Elizabeth Mathias
Deputy Chief and Media Relations:
1st Lt. Justin Brockhoff
Chief, Community Relations:
2nd Lt. Korry Leverett
Chief, Internal Information:
Valerie Mullett (819th RHS rep)
Beat Reporters and their beats:
Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
(341st OG and MXG)
Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
(341st MDG and MSG)
Airman 1st Class Dillon White
(SFG and Wing Staff Agencies)