To the editor:

In response to the June 2 Saturday Column, there are some great leaders here in Lawrence, but many people probably don’t know about them, because their stories are rarely heard.

In fact, I know of dozens of people doing great things here, hundreds of brilliant solutions that could be realized if only they had a mass-communications medium to reach the people.

The Journal-World, having access to the primary means to communicate to almost the entire town, has an extraordinary opportunity to be a leader. It could raise the visibility of significant problems facing our society, and report on the ways that people are trying to solve them. Short of an occasional article here or there, it could create a whole new section of the paper, entitled “Local Solutions” that would highlight solutions proposed by Lawrence residents. It could allow a forum within this section for community members to contribute stories directly.

Citizen journalism represents a groundswell of unrealized potential, and you can see this trend toward a more democratic, public media growing all over the country.

What editor at the Journal-World wants to be courageous and encourage stories that are controversial but educational? What managing editor wants to close the communications divide and allow all voices to be heard, not just the voices in power or of privilege?

For Kansas to be a leader, its citizens must be well informed. With a vibrant and diverse information environment, the leaders the editor hopes to see emerge can really come to fruition.

Tim Hjersted,

Lawrence