One of my favorite journalism professors used to ask students why they chose to study this field. Now that was back when we used manual typewriters, but the answer remains the same.

"If you say it's to meet people, you should be an Avon lady," Katherine Smith used to say.If you say it's because you want to tell people's stories, that's different.She was the one who would also dock students who were five minutes late to class."If you are late for an assignment you will miss something important," she would say in her southern accent. She had a professor who would lock students out of the room.I agree about being prompt for events. I once had to race to the courthouse to take a picture of a judge being sworn in. The editor remembered the assignment at the last minute, but I had to be ready to go.I was the lifestyle editor, which meant I was the lone person in the newsroom that morning.Nervous about letting the paper down, I raced downtown, flew through the courthouse to Courtroom 1 and sneaked in just as the judge was taking his oath. That was the days before tight security. That would never happen today.I got one lucky shot and we were able to use it in the paper. That was truly my lucky day because my first shot is really my best.Mrs. Smith was right about that, but I think enjoying meeting people is an integral part of telling stories.Every person has a story and there is something to learn from each one.These days we get a lot of stories from social media, but there is nothing like getting up close and personal with people.Now and then I have the opportunity to meet people in the community and I always come back energized.That's because every time I step out the door, I get fresh story ideas and learn just a little more about an organization or a person.I had an editor who would say, "The stories aren't in here at your desk."He went on to The New York Times, so he had a good idea what he was talking about.Some conversations produce immediate results, while others get filed away for later stories.The problem is the few of us at the Times News can't possibly meet every reader.We need your help.Have a story tip? Call us at 610-377-2051. Email us at

tneditor@tnonline.com. Send a message on Facebook.What are we looking for? What's important in your life?What's happening in your community?What worries you? What affects you financially?Maybe there is an unsung hero in your organization. That's the person who helps everyone and doesn't expect anything in return.Maybe you know a student in your neighborhood who shovels your sidewalks without any arm twisting.Or a store employee who goes above and beyond to help people.Or someone who just has a great life story.My greatest disappointment is when I read our obituaries and see a missed opportunity to meet a special person. If only we had known …You can help us with that.Is your organization celebrating a special event? Having a fundraiser?Contact us. If we can come, we will.If we can't, you can submit a write-up and photos.Some things you need to know about photos:• Take them on the highest resolution you can. Check the settings on your camera or cellphone.• Send us the original photo. Don't downsize the photo and don't try to do anything fancy like embedding the photo on a Word document. Don't print out a digital photo. We can work better with the original.• Make sure you have good lighting. Cellphones take decent photos if you are outside or have really good light.• If it's a group shot, arrange people in the photo. Have three seated in front with four standing behind them. Try not to put more than eight people in a photo. When we print the photo, the faces will be way too small. Take two photos instead.• Get as close as you can to the subjects. Don't take photos from the back of the room.• Take lots of photos. Your first shot is not always your best shot. Inevitably someone moves or closes his or her eyes.• Name everyone in the photo from left to right.• Send it to us with your contact information. We need to have that in case we have questions.That's it. We can't wait to hear from you.