Praise for News-Times’ Tia Lyons
I am writing this letter to commend Tia Lyons, one of the El Dorado News-Times staff writers, for her insightful and inspiring article written May 31, 2020, “The Harmony of Music,” profiling Daniza Scott, one of the first El Dorado High School graduates to receive The El Dorado Promise.
Tia chronicles Daniza’s journey from El Dorado via Louisiana as she settled and excelled in Dallas, TX.
Tia directs our attention to Daniza’s school, Ronald E. McNair being selected as one of five elementary schools to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools grant program. As talented as she is, Daniza assumed the role of producer/production manager of Disney’s Lion King Kids at McNair in May 2019.
Tia Lyons is masterful with words. She makes ALL of her columns come alive. “The Harmony of Music” does not disappoint. If you didn’t know Daniza, you do now because Tia introduced Daniza, her parents, her siblings, her musical prowess, her educational pursuits, her employment, and of course being named 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year at Ronald E. McNair Elementary School in Dallas, TX.
Tia’s skill as a journalist is ever on display as she takes meticulous notes and then transforms them into word and mental pictures. Whatever she writes, the reader feels as though he/she is present. She always provides details, quotes, and relevant information. She continually educates and informs via her articles.
It is such a pleasure and joy to read Tia’s work. She is TRULY a MASTER JOURNALIST. El Dorado is privileged to have her servicing our community. Kudos to Tia Lyons for her God-given talent to inform, inspire, and delight.
—Ruthy Reedy Wiley Detroit, Michigan
Reader comments on News-Times shift to digital
It wasn’t surprising to read the El Dorado News-Times will be going to an all-digital format. After all, that’s the direction of the industry. It was, however, quite surprising and quite disappointing to read the subscription rate will double…presumably as a means of recovering the cost of providing each subscriber an iPad. For the past 4 years, I’ve not taken the printed edition. I’ve enjoyed the convenience of reading the New-Times in its digital format and have done so on my own device. It’s vexing to know I will now be asked to subsidize the cost of an iPad for the masses. Seems as if the NewsTimes could provide a solution to this by offering two rates… one for those who are “renting” the iPads and one for those who provide their own. Is that not possible? My sole reason for subscription to the News-Times is to keep up-to-date with local news and I would think that’s consistent with most of its subscribers. The national news printed in the News-Times has been of no interest to me for quite some time as it seems it’s published increasingly more and more from left-leaning newspapers and news outlets. Consequently, I’m encouraged to get that news elsewhere. It will be of interest to see if this digital shift and significant rate increase will cause a reduction in subscription numbers. Certainly, some percentage is anticipated. As with any change, opportunity is created. This opportunity could manifest itself in the creation of a competing, free on-line offering of local news…something neighboring Columbia County experienced 10 years ago and continues to enjoy today. Either way, let’s hope the consumer benefits from this change and the News-Times considers a different approach to its planned significant subscription rate increase.
— Jason Hines El Dorado