People hungry for news

Following the unfolding events on the East Coast after a terrorist attack on the nation covered a wide range of Brainerd Daily Dispatch news resources -- on the Internet, over the phone and in banner headlines on newsprint.

The lead story on the attack was read 257 times on the Internet. Advertising was pulled from The Dispatch home page in order to allow the online paper to load faster. Graphics for other stories were reduced to also decrease the load factor on the site and keep it going when other national news Web sites were being overloaded.

Information from The Associated Press was set up directly from The Dispatch Web site instead of using a link because AP news servers were overloaded. Dispatch online chat rooms and forums allowed people to discuss the day's events. And an online poll allowed readers to vote on a proper American response.

"We will have continuing coverage," said Denton Newman Jr., Dispatch new media director. "When we get updates, we load them right up there immediately."

And Newman said more AP information will be used as the AP's online load decreases.

The Dispatch is offering today's newspaper to most area schools at no charge. The Crosby-Ironton and Pequot Lakes school districts were part of the program this morning with other schools expected to join. The free papers are offered through the Newspapers in Education program that provides news content to classrooms. Schools are not charged for the papers as the program is funded through public donations and The Dispatch.

Schools requested 7,883 papers for classrooms and ranged from about 30 papers for area private schools to 1,700 papers for Brainerd High School.

In addition, newspapers were distributed Tuesday at the Westgate Mall and Central Lakes College.

Dianna Kiehlbauch, Dispatch assistant circulation manager, said the number of papers was increased to regular distribution spots in area stores and newspaper racks so that everyone who wanted news could get it.

Carl Specht, Dispatch Audiotex administrator, said more than 50 calls were received on the AP News Audiotex Info Line. Audiotex provides voice information that is accessed by telephone. Every 20 minutes the AP News line is updated on worldwide news.

Specht said the news line is currently centered on what is going on in New York and Washington D.C. and the terrorist attacks.

Audiotex can be accessed by calling 829-2900 or 800-547-2909.