Small Town News

It's a lousy day in Rockport.The bank was robbed, a man was killed, and in what may or may not be a coincidence, the school superintendent vanished without a trace it couldn't have worked out any better for high school journalist Tiffany Everett. Everything happened on the first day of her one-week internship at an area television station.Tiffany has a chance to see small town journalism at its best and its worst, as she deals with an intriguing group of characters:Shannon Starbuck-the hometown girl and star reporter to whom Tiffany is assigned.Willie Taylor-her journalism teacher, who shares a past with Shannon.Kirk Robbins-the boy wonder newspaper editor who is willing to cut corners to beat the competition on the biggest story that has ever hit Rockport.During seven exciting days, Tiffany Everett sees the permanent damage that can be done when the media circus hits a small town and if she's lucky, she may live to see football homecoming.

The author, Randy Turner, earned more than 100 national, state and regional awards in investigative reporting, feature writing, deadline news writing, and sports reporting during 22 years as a newspaper editor and reporter in southwest Missouri. He teaches English at South Middle School in Joplin, MO.