When the last Kaimin issue of 2012 went to bed last week, I couldn’t. I stayed up going over all the great stories and missed opportunities. Of course good papers, stories and graphics don’t grow like weeds. We have to tend to every aspect like a seedling in the spring. But what luck, we’ll be back again the last week of January with some new leadership, fresh faces and renewed focus. Plus, social media is now in my job description. We’ll hold a few winter break meetings about strategy but I’m pretty sure it will have something to do with HootSuite. Stay tuned.

In the xmas spirit, I crafted a clever column tying holiday music to attitudes and celebrations in Missoula.

Keep Missoula Weird: The most wonderful time of the year

Now for something completely different. While we’re taught a comprehensive curriculum at UM, it doesn’t mean all broadcasters can write or all writers can shine on audio tracks. It does mean that I should try when I get the chance, of course. For our last elections assignment, I teamed up with Patrick Record once more to explore the environmental vote. Whether it makes it online to Montana Public Media or stays hidden on YouTube doesn’t matter. Interviewing for camera quotes and presenting a wide array of views in a short time is a challenge worth undertaking. We called it “The Green Vote.”

Expect a story (and photo!) in the Missoula Independent Thursday on this amazing woman.