By Don Hinkle
Editor
JEFFERSON CITY – This is change we hope Pathway readers can believe in.
For the first time in its eight-plus year history, both The Pathway’s print and web editions are getting a new look. The new look brings new features specifically targeting women as well as the media mavens of the new digital age. The usual Pathway stories focusing on Missouri Southern Baptist work around the world and promotion of a Christian worldview will continue to be priorities amidst the changes.
“We have spent a year researching, experimenting and praying over the changes and we believe we are positioning The Pathway to address the changing world of media, giving the paper a more modern look, shorter stories in order for readers to move quickly through the paper and aggressively seeking to connect and interact with our readers in ways once thought impossible,” said Don Hinkle, founding editor of The Pathway.
The new-look Pathway will greatly emphasize color photography and graphics, and tighter written stories featuring an outstanding array of free-lance writers from around Missouri. The paper will also feature columnists like Hinkle, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director David Tolliver, MBC Evangelism Director Gary Taylor, MBC Worship Specialist John Francis, MBC Sunday School/Discipleship leader Mike Cooper and a new addition. Author Rhonda Rhea of First Baptist Church, Troy, will bring her insightful and often hilarious “Shades of Rhea” column to The Pathway as well.
The new Pathway website – still at www.mbcpathway.com – will bring new features with its new look as well. The website will offer a plethora of ways for readers to interact with The Pathway staff. At the end of every story readers will have the opportunity to comment and interact with other readers about the content of the story. Contact information for readers to interact with the writers will also be provided. In addition, two new blogs will be offered, one called Pastors’ Corner, will be geared specifically toward pastors and church staffers. It will be moderated by David Krueger, the 22-year pastor of First Baptist Church, Linn. Hinkle will also blog throughout each weekday about a variety of topics and as news breaks.
The website will also offer a greatly enhanced archival search as well as podcast audio and video capabilities. Links to numerous other websites and the ability to connect with The Pathway via Facebook and Twitter are now available. This special edition for the annual meeting will be expanded to the normal 20 pages starting with the next issue. The Pathway will remain a bi-weekly, with 26 issues published each year. Its annual subscription rate of just $10 and its advertising rates remain unchanged for 2011.