opinion

Condom pin story upset readers, but it deserved coverage

Disgusting. Inappropriate. Pathetic. Who do you people think you are?

I heard all of these comments and other colorful statements last week in response to our decision to run a story on the front page about a mother-daughter who create decorative pins from condoms for their business called Condom Cuties.

My favorite was the gentleman who told me, “Get your head out of your rear,” when I tried to explain why we did the story. I’m pretty sure I didn’t change his mind.

I appreciate the comments and feedback because they made me think even more about what stories we put in the paper, in particular the front page. I’m not sure my mind has been changed, but it makes me more aware, which is a good thing.

To start off, no one here at Livingston Daily — including myself, who made the decision to put it on the front page — meant to upset our readers. For those we did, I apologize.

However, our goal here at Livingston Daily is to inform our readers of the good, the bad, the ugly and the unique. And I certainly felt a mother-daughter team who use condoms to make pins deserved a story. I’ve never heard of anything like it.

Was it too much for the front page? That can certainly be debated.

However, we’re passionate about all things local — people, events, schools, government — and this fell right in there. Local people doing something unique.

The vast majority of our stories are about local residents and groups doing wonderful acts in the community. We’ve written about volunteers making community gardens and honored top students and athletes as part of our annual All-County Academic Team and All-Athlete of the Year, respectively. When the Hartland High School baseball team won its first state championship in June, our sports reporter Tim Robinson was there.

When Howell’s Michigan Challenge Balloonfest and Brighton’s Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival come to town, we’re there as well with coverage and photos.

If it’s local, we’re there.

So when our education reporter Abby Welsh and photographer Alan Ward were meeting people one evening just to see what was going on in the community, and they met a mother-daughter duo who had launched their own business, we saw a story.

Obviously, something about condoms hit a nerve. Mention condoms, and some people believed we were endorsing sex. Well, not at all.

Instead, we are simply here to write about local residents. We are hyper-local, meaning if you’re a local resident doing something unique, we want to talk to you.

Jim Totten is the community engagement editor for the Livingston Daily. Contact him at 517-548-7088 or at jtotten@livingstondaily.com.