Persuasive writing can be the cornerstone of a strong newspaper or website.
Real and raw, whether entertaining, inspiring or enraging, it should always stimulate the reader.

In this column, I used the word blowjob in a conservative, small town. While my manager expected a deluge of complaints, the only one I heard was from my father. We sold every single issue off the stands.
Where's that soap?

Politics have always interested me, but I try to pepper the seriousness with some old fashioned self-deprecation. At the very least, sharing personal humiliation with the world builds character, kind of like the game of hockey builds a nose.
Impassable when wet (seriously)

Every once in a while. an issue arises which with a little leadership, has the power the unite an entire community. In 2008, our region was faced with a chronic doctor shortage. The CEO of our health region held a public meeting. He was not well-received, but at the time I wrote this, I was unaware how the public had perceived his visit. While our first few conversations after this column was published were tense, our working relationship has endured the incident.
Dirty laundry

In the newspaper business, you rely upon other business for advertising revenue. Sometimes, going up against a big corporate entity can be intimidating. Most times however, it just needs to be done. Such was the case when dealing with Nilsson Bros. proposed purchase of Tyson Foods' slaughterhouse in Alberta.
Sweatshop cowboys

Politicians, of course, are never exempt.
Dirty fingernails