Jeff Smith - A New Way to Communicate

I remember as a kid the dreaded moment when the teacher told us it was time to write a paper. It was scary for most, but some secretly reveled in the opportunity to be creative with their words. For the past six years, I’ve written a weekly column for readers throughout the 31st Senate District. That’s 312 columns since I was elected to the Senate. 

Unlike when I was a kid, the excitement to put my thoughts into words was cherished most weeks, but I admit, there were a week or two that I dreaded it. My excitement ebbed and flowed as with most long-term commitments. As I look back though, I’ve appreciated the opportunity. My favorite part of the process was picking a topic with my staff. During our weekly meetings, we all would throw out a few topics and then I’d pick one to write about. Some ideas were off the wall, some were weird, but through this process, we had a lot of fun figuring out a topic that excited me to write about. 

My commitment isn’t changing, but I’m hoping to try something new. Instead of a weekly column, I’ll be doing regular video updates. Sometimes it will be in the halls of the Capitol in Madison and sometimes, I’ll be doing them while I am out and about in the new senate district. I’m excited about the prospect of delivering the inside scoop face-to-camera. I’ll warn you though, I’m not the most tech savvy individual, but I’m willing to do it to meet people where they are at – on their phones and computers. They will be short, but they will be informative. 

Now, don’t worry, it won’t be the end of a guest column from time-to-time. Unlike with video, sometimes, writing down thoughts in a structured manner helps us as communicators and for readers to follow along. Our 31st Senate District is changing, there are fewer weekly papers to print the weekly column, but as a tradeoff, there are many more constituents in the new 31st Senate District who have broadband and cell phone reception. 

What I enjoy when I pick up a newspaper is reading the opinion page – it’s incredible to read the varied opinions, ideas and thoughts. Some are informative, some are funny and some are heart wrenching. So, here’s my challenge to you – be creative, communicate and find enjoyment with it. Try writing a column or letter-to-the-editor. The hardest part is starting, but I assure you that it gets easier every time and sometimes it may be hard to stop. Those dedicated teachers who challenged us with writing assignments didn’t just do it to watch us squirm. They did it to help us find an outlet to get our thoughts out for others to enjoy. After all, we all have something to learn from our neighbors. 

The next best tip is to find a confidant to edit your writing and be willing to accept revisions, tweaks and wholesale changes to enhance your writing. The best part about editors is you can accept anything you want from them or you can leave it. The greatest writers rely on even better editors to enhance the writing and make it easier for readers to immerse themselves in the composition. Thankfully, I’ve had a dedicated staff who help me shape my thoughts and offer ideas to incorporate that enrich each column I’ve written. Writing is far more fun when it’s a team effort.

I’m looking forward to changing it up a bit. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions. As with any creation, it’s helpful to get feedback from people who view a video post, a radio recording or other types of media we hope to produce for constituents in the new district. It has been an honor to write to you these past few years – I look forward to keeping our commitment going with new creative ways to communicate in the new year.