Saving Local News
It’s happening right here in my community: A group of devoted local journalists and civic leaders have banded together to save four local newspapers with a new nonprofit model designed as a national model for preserving a community voice. One is the Sebastopol Times, where I had my first journalism job. I am anxious to share and support what these dedicated good folks are doing. When I heard about this, I had a sudden rush of memories that almost broughth tears to my eyes, realizing how local news is enormously valuable to personal and community well-being, especially at a time when our nation and our world are so polarized.
We Need Local News for More than Information
The morning after the 1989 Earthquake in San Francisco. When the Chronicle truck pulled up to deliver papers to a news stand, people mobbed it, grabbing for the papers. Why? They wanted to know about the well-being of their friends and neighbors but maybe more than that, they wanted to feel connected to community.
The Chronicle wasn’t a small paper, but at that moment, it was the local paper, the voice of the community. It was serving a different function than filling us in on international news, Washington politics, and other distant events that do not necessarily impact our daily lives. It was the carrier of solace, through words that helped settle fear and confusion.
How Much is Local News Worth?
