HOT PURSUIT
A week doesn’t go by without me hearing from one or more of our thousands of readers about something they liked or even may not have liked (rarely) in our newspaper.
I have always said that the greatest boost I get from putting out a newspaper is the feedback from readers. I firmly believe money cannot buy happiness, and in this case, money doesn’t bring me job satisfaction. Instead, comments from readers brings me not only happiness but also job satisfaction.
This week is National Newspaper Week, and it’s a perfect time to recognize the role and value that newspapers play in our lives. Local papers have been a trusted source for sharing of news, information, ideas and viewpoints for centuries. And I don’t believe that will change any time soon. You are the reason I make that claim. Over the past few years, we’ve added hundreds of new readers with a strong desire for local news coverage.
Yes, it’s true some people are in love with social media. And quite often for all the wrong reasons. In their eyes, newspapers aren’t as sexy as Facebook and other platforms.
Local news is valuable. I’m sorry social media fanatics, but you’re going to be hard pressed to find news about your community on Facebook or Goggle. When is the last time goggle posted a photo of the local homecoming king or queen? What about the Owatonna teenager who has made a miraculous recovery from a motor vehicle crash? How about the fall festival over in Ellendale? Or what about a Blooming Prairie teen sharing her experiences about Girls State?
I can guarantee you that none of those stories will be found on any social media platform unless a local newspaper like ours generated them.
What’s especially bothersome is that social media is a major source of misinformation that polarizes communities and the rest of the country. Social media has added to the confusion between fact and opinion.
My challenge to our readers is to continue supporting the mission of newspapers by buying subscriptions and spreading the word to others about the relevance of local news. We’ve had a few readers over the last year who have purchased multiple subscriptions for friends and family members.
By subscribing to or advertising in your local newspaper, you are providing much needed support to keep trained, professional journalists covering the issues important to you. Currently, we have a team with more than 200 years of combined newspaper experience.
Our team of journalists is committed to providing you with all the local news happening in Steele County and the surrounding counties. We take our work seriously in making the communities we serve stronger, safer and healthier. We do so by offering the highest journalistic standards.
While I’m sure not everyone will gather this week to celebrate National Newspaper Week, I hope you will at least consider going in hot pursuit of recognizing how our newspaper makes a difference in your life and throughout the community.