Problem

Rhonda has worked at the Augusta Daily Gazette since 1972, witnessing significant changes at the newspaper. “We’ve been through many different owners and technological transitions,” she says. Their first computer was an Apple 6E, “a little square box.” Rhonda has used almost every level of Mac computer and is now using Windows for the first time and doesn’t mind it.

Changing Technology

Technology isn’t the only change Rhonda has seen at the Augusta Daily Gazette. Over forty years, she’s held various titles, moving from advertising to circulation to legals. With each job, she’s had to learn new processes. “After being in advertising, I moved to composition,” she recalls. “We used tools like razor blades, waxers, paper, and scissors. Every grocery ad had to be assembled piece-by-piece. It was like playing with paper dolls or sewing. I hired people based on their craftiness.”

In 2013, Butler County merged the Augusta Daily Gazette and the El Dorado Times. A few years later, CherryRoad Media, a fast-growing media company, bought the Butler County papers. Rhonda, one of the county’s few legal notaries, became responsible for handling all public notices. This new role added significant workload, but Rhonda always stepped up to accept the changes. However, managing the full legals responsibility wasn’t easy. “I already had several positions, and my workload was really full,” she says.

Solution

Earlier this year, Rhonda started using Column’s public notice software to automate the legals process for the Butler County Times-Gazette. She was initially nervous about the new software but quickly found it easy to use. “Once I processed one notice, it was easy,” she says. Column streamlines many manual processes involved in publishing public notices, saving her a lot of time. “We get a large volume of legals daily,” she adds. “Before Column, I communicated with the entities placing public notices and input all notices into an old system by hand. Now, Column takes care of all that, making things go smoothly.”

Rhonda doesn’t have to guide her customers extensively to help them learn Column. Once she shows them how to use it, they pick it up right away. “Some customers are initially hesitant about learning a new system. But once they try Column, they’re good with it. It’s all about taking that initial step. After everyone uses it once, there aren’t any more problems. Honestly, I just love it.”

Impact

With Column, Rhonda’s daily work life has become much easier. She understands her customers’ initial hesitancy, given the constant changes in the news industry. “It’s real different here than it used to be,” she reflects, gesturing around her quiet office. “There used to be at least 35 people here. Now it’s just me and my coworker Lori. But we’re okay. We’re working through it. We have good writers trying to energize our readers and bring the local focus back to us, the small papers.”

Change is inevitable in the news industry, and Column is another tool that’s helped Rhonda navigate the next wave in her career. “Using software like Column lets me streamline everything,” Rhonda says. “It helps all of us do our best work for the paper.”