I know many of the editors, reporters and publishers who work at these newspapers, and I know they all take their jobs seriously and give it their all each week. And then there are the yappers, the little papers nipping at the heels of the geriatric giants listed above. One of the more accomplished in this category is Mountain Xpress, a well put- together independent weekly in Asheville that is lively and informative. It's success is partly due to the shortcomings of the Citizen-Times, but I think that the paper's growth and popularity is more due to the fact that those running it know their readership and clientele. The Xpress is like a guidebook for the eclectic, well-educated, new age citizens that make Asheville such a unique place.
Few newspapers are as in touch with their readers and advertisers.
The Smoky Mountain News is still in infancy, but we know where we want to go. Our aim is to pick out interesting stories whose pertinence crosses county lines. People in towns and counties in this region are facing the same challenges, and want to look at these issues regionally. Any good community paper tries to address nearly everything in its coverage area. We look for stories we think people want to read or that are important for some reason or another.