RHOADES LESS TRAVELED: Expect a new look for Pilot

No doubt about it: These are tumultuous times.

But also times of great opportunity.

I’m sure many of you have read about the staffing changes at the Daily Pilot. In fact, I’ve had longtime, loyal readers ask me whether the Pilot will continue publishing or simply shutter its doors.

I promise you, it will continue to excel in covering Newport-Mesa.

The proof is in the pudding. On any given day, you’ll find news on politics, schools, crime, human interest and more in the Daily Pilot. With a staff of editors and reporters who can’t be beat, we continue to be your best source of local news.

Some examples: In the past two weeks, we’ve had stories on a murder trial involving a couple who were tied to the anchor of their boat and thrown overboard, a breakdown of fiscal cuts — these will affect you — proposed by Costa Mesa, ongoing coverage of a Fair plan to close the Equestrian Center and use it for parking, which has horse enthusiasts up in arms, and a moving profile of a salon owner who gives away wigs to women facing alopecia, a hair-loss disease.

Need more?

How about our robust coverage of Pacific Coast League basketball, as well as stories about local teams’ performances in soccer, water polo and volleyball on our sports pages.

Want to know what’s going on with UCI volleyball? Read Barry Faulkner.

Want to know the scoop on the latest drama at Newport Beach and Costa Mesa city halls? Read Brianna Bailey and Alan Blank.

Want a blow by blow of a nailbiting criminal trial? Joe Serna’s your man.

This is not to mention our thriving website, dailypilot.com, which features, among other items, news, videos, blogs, calendar and a Town Hall feature that allows you to submit items and have them published online and sometimes in print. Welcome aboard, community correspondents.

I could go on, but you get the point.

And enough about the present. Let’s talk about the future, because we’ve got some exciting things in store.

Both our print product and website will be redesigned in the coming months. Come spring, expect an entirely new — and improved — look for your best source of community content, as well as a new sports publication titled GameonOC, all on display at an open house right here at the Pilot where you can commingle with staffers.

Along those lines, I’d like to hear from you about what changes we should make. What content should we provide that we are not providing? What content should we nix because it is not serving you well? What suggestions do you have about how the paper — and website — should look?

Contact me at (714) 966-4607 or at brady.rhoades@latimes.com.