Don’t call it news

— Rollie Atkinson
We’ve all been taught since an early age not to drink water from
an open stream or unknown source. When it comes to consuming news
it would be just as healthy to do likewise. In other words, always
consider the source. Don’t call it news unless you know where it
came from and where it’s been. Drinking bad water can make you
sick. Mistaking rumor, conjecture or hearsay for news can make you
stupid.
These days, too many people can’t tell the difference between
real news and fake news. Producing real news requires
fact-checking, research and practice. Anybody can Twitter, do a
blog or make a Web site. You can print stories, comments and
chitchat on paper but it takes more than that to make a real
newspaper.
This newspaper you hold in your hands plays an important role in
our community. It’s mostly about “news” but its more than that as
well. Community newspapers stimulate the local economy with
advertising services, “shop local” campaigns and by serving a loyal
and local audience of readers every week.
This newspaper provides an open forum for local businesses,
readers and others to have their voices heard. We collect and print
press releases and other announcements about events, local people
and happenings. We get asked questions and we provide answers.
We encourage civic participation and the sharing of ideas and
opinions. We separate facts from opinion in our weekly printed
pages and on our Web sites. This business of collecting, assembling
and presenting the news is more than just a bunch of paper and ink.
It’s called journalism, where we publish a trustworthy account of
what is important and of interest to the widest possible readership
we can reach. The more people that use this newspaper, the better
it becomes.
Alas, we’ve all been hearing about the sweeping changes and
challenges to the newspaper business. The Internet and Craigslist
are taking away all the newspapers’ business. All the news you
could want or need is free on your cell phone, satellite TV or
laptop. Blogs and Twitter and your Facebook friends are all you
need to stay tuned to the very latest fast-breaking events.
Newspapers are dying dinosaurs and professional journalists are
being replaced by anyone with an attention span of more than five
seconds.
These challenges and threats are mostly real — except we are not
ready to become dinosaurs headed for quick extinction. We have a
different future in mind for this newspaper and our community.
With the continued support of our paid readership and loyal
local business advertisers we predict great things for this
newspaper once we all get past this current economic recession.
Right now is a critical time for news reporters and editors to
watch more closely how local tax dollars are being spent. How local
governments and schools go about making new budgets must be made
public and put to extra scrutiny. The best government operates in
daylight and not behind closed doors. It takes dedicated
journalists to keep those doors open.
Better than Twitter or Facebook, the local newspaper has always
been the best place to get to know your neighbors and make new
friends and community partners. A good community newspaper shares
news about youth sports games, fundraisers, school events, church
meetings and chamber of commerce activities.
A good news source quenches the thirst for knowledge about how
to be a better neighbor and a more active citizen. The best news
informs voters and taxpayers. Reliable news reports and experienced
journalists are more necessary than ever in this over-wired world
of bloggers and twits.