Oct. 6-12 is National Newspaper Week

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Thus reads the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

One of the freedoms we cherish as Americans is the freedom of the press. Part of living in a free society is having access to a wide range of information and differing viewpoints through media, including printed publications. The freedom of the press is something that defines our society, that sets us apart from totalitarian regimes which allow government-sanctioned media only.

Despitechangesintechnology,newspapers are still relevant and still provide the hyper-local news that you just can’t get anywhere else. In fact, one out of two Americans read or access information from their local weekly newspaper every month. Whether you open a paper copy of the TRG or log in online (visit centralwinews.com), you’re still getting the local stories that matter to you. Reuters reports that 20% of U.S. news readers paid to access online newspapers in 2020, one indication that newspapers aren’t going anywhere but are changing their format to adapt to the times.

One of the reasons newspapers are valuable is they provide information you can’t get anywhere else that you can also readily act upon. The newspaper is where you can read in-depth articles on candidates running for school board, city council or county board, or even the State Assembly, whereas you likely won’t get such a detailed comparison online. This information enables you to cast an informed vote. The newspaper is where you can learn about purchases made and budgets being set involving your taxpayer dollars, perhaps prompting you to speak at a public meeting or contact your local representative.

When tragedy strikes, like the recent Loyal fire, you can learn about ways to help and be encouraged by the good stories that come out of such an event. The newspaper is full of reporting on the places and people you know, as opposed to high-level bureaucrats far removed from your everyday life.

For elected officials, the newspaper provides some level of accountability and at least the knowledge that there is a watchdog paying attention to how they conduct government business. It’s another form of checks and balances.

For those who live far away, the newspaper is a way to stay connected to the life of their hometown community. It is always fun to hear of readers who live states away, like in California or Arizona, who are still faithfully getting the paper.

The newspaper is also a place to celebrate successes, whether it be high school athletes or musicians, or homegrown individuals who have gone on to be successful in their respective career fields. It’s the place to highlight the local business that just held a ribbon cutting and is filling a need in the community, or the new playground that will help family members connect with one another. It provides a snapshot of festivals, concerts and other events that bring the community together. It also serves as a hi s tor i c a l re c ord of t hing s l i ke weather-related catastrophes, property transfers, crime, community successes and failures, but also of more personal happenings such as marriage and death.

And all of this information – barring the opinion sections – is to be presented in a non-biased, straightforward manner, simply presenting the facts of the situation. Both sides of an issue should be presented fairly, not with a one-sided slant. It’s up to the reader to come to their own conclusions. At least that is how I feel; I can’t write on behalf of other publications.

So, there are many reasons to appreciate newspapers and, more importantly, to read them. Although, I suppose I am preaching to the choir here. Your reading this shows that you still value the printed word. So, what you can do to celebrate National Newspaper Week? Tell a friend about this publication and encourage them to subscribe. (Shameless plug.) We would love to have more support.

Everyone in the newspaper world has a story as to how they got involved in journalism. For me, it wasn’t something I planned from the start. I always enjoyed writing but didn’t necessarily think of myself as a newspaper writer. I just had never really pictured myself in that role. However, an internship after my junior year of college led to a job opportunity, which eventually led to a promotion and another job opportunity down the road, and now here I am. However, looking back at my time as a reporter/editor, I am glad for the stories I’ve gotten to share. Some of the most rewarding stories have been when I’ve been able to take someone’s passion, whether it’s for art, or wellness, or equine therapy, and somehow translate that into the written word so others can catch the vision. There’s power in making sure people’s stories get told. Speaking of that, here’s a friendly reminder that if you have any news tips, story ideas or newsworthy photos, please send them to me at news@trgnews.com or call/text 715-503-0602. I certainly appreciate it.

I’ll end with a few quotes. “Newspapers cannot be defined by the second word – paper. They’ve got to be defined by the first word – news.” – Arthur Sulzberger Jr.

“What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation, and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!” – Joseph Pulitzer “The newspaper is a greater treasure to the people than uncounted millions of gold.” – Henry Ward Beecher Happy National Newspaper Week and thank you for reading!

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