SIKESTON -- The Standard Democrat has always sought to be at the forefront of election coverage -- with news stories and on the editorial page.
In 2013, the newspaper was contacted by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute on the University of Missouri campus about participating in research looking at newspaper election coverage.
More than 400 Sikeston-area residents, both subscribers and non-subscribers, were interviewed either online or by telephone to learn their thoughts on the Standard Democrat's election coverage and what types of coverage are most important to them. When the election season is over, many of those interviewed will be recontacted to determine if the Standard Democrat is fulfilling its mission.
What a majority of those interviewed had to say -- and what we already knew -- was that when it comes to elections it is that the local ones are important. We will continue our emphasis on local election and issues.
Today is the third in a series on the Sikeston R-6 School bond proposal. Upcoming is a look at the candidates seeking the three openings on the New Madrid County R-1 School Board. Also planned is an interview with the two candidates seeking a one-year unexpired term on the Sikeston City Council.
On the evening of the election, we will be posting results of races as they are received on our Website, standard-democrat.com so readers can find out the results as soon as possible.
Our goal is to keep readers abreast of as many campaigns as possible through Associated Press and staff reports. If readers have any suggestions on races that needed to be watched or questions that need to be asked as the campaign season continues, please email these to news@standard-democrat.com.