Changes at York Daily Record biz section

There have been lots of changes in the business department of the York Daily Record/Sunday News in the last six months, writes business editor Kara Eberle to Talking Biz News.

“I took the helm of the department in early January, having worked as night metro editor for two years and the day cops reporter for about two years before that,” she said. “My goal has been to move away from more traditional, business-to-business type stories to telling stories about how people in York County spend, save and earn. Through this approach, we’re moving toward a business-lifestyle page for our paper.”

Reporter Brent Burkey joined the staff on July 2. He covers manufacturing and trend stories in area industry, which includes Harley-Davidson’s largest manufacturing facility and global companies such as P.H. Glatfelter and Dentsply. Brent started at the paper right out of Penn State and worked as its day cops reporter and city hall reporter before moving to the business desk.

Added Eberle: “Our office life and consumer affairs reporter Charlotte Tucker has had success in getting readers to interact with the newspaper, including a ‘send us your business card’ project that resulted in more than 70 people sending in their cards. We received many story ideas, gained sources in the business community and now have a weekly feature inside our Sunday section on featured business cards, which offers tips to readers on choosing and making business cards.”

In addition, longtime business writer Sean Adkins continues to delve into databases and public records, including a project that showed county foreclosures jumping 112 percent in a year.

The business desk has started a blog called “Mind Your Own Business,” which includes everything from consumer news to a video of some staffers decorating the living editor’s desk while she was on vacation. Check it out at www.yorkblog.com/biz.