New biz column launched at California paper

Michael Whiteley, business editor of the Oroville Mercury Register newspaper in California, is launching a new column called “Business Talk” and explained Thursday what he hopes the column will be about.

Whiteley wrote, “Business Talk is to be a column, like any other, in that it will reflect the ideas and opinions of this newspaper’s business editor, who has covered the beat now for more than five years and has helped promote around 200 locally-owned businesses in the greater Oroville area. This column, however, is not intended to be solely based upon this editor’s opinions of what is in the best interest of the public to know regarding business.

“Instead, it is my hope that the community at large will chime in to suggest topics related to local business that the readers would like to read about. Perhaps there are positive comments you might like to share about your local business experiences. Maybe there are some bad experiences, too, that we could discuss in a positive framework ­ this will not be a forum for business bashing, but instead should provide a means to emphasize the good things that are going on here in Oroville or at least suggest ways in which things might be changed for the better.

“This could also be a place for rumors to be shared, and confirmed or denied, whenever possible. For instance, we have all heard that there is a new mall being made from the vacancy of the Montgomery Wards building. What new businesses will go in there? When will it be completed? Is this a sign that Oroville is growing? Is the growth occurring for the best for locals?”

Read more here.