Last night I had the good fortune to be invited to join the effort to start a community newspaper. We used to have one a few years back, and it was such an important part of our town that it was sorely missed when it went away. At first, to mitigate costs, I assume, it went online for a while, but the online version didn’t hit the same way. You didn’t linger on it the way you do when you’re holding an actual paper in your hand, turning it over while drinking a cup of coffee. (Or in my case, orange juice.)
New Territory
So, I’m excited. Not too long ago, I wrote about the need for more community-based news again, believing that if we are to build societal trust back up, much of that needs to happen at the community level. Little did I know at the time that I would get the opportunity to be involved in just such an effort, only five months later. Much of the groundwork is already done and I’m getting to join as the initial fundraising effort takes shape. I can’t wait to see what the first edition looks like when it goes to print.
This is new territory for me. I’ve never been a founding member of a newspaper, but I’ve already learned a lot in the last two weeks since being introduced to the possibility. I’ve written for an online periodical in the past, and have contributed pieces to other publications, so I’m a little familiar with how that aspect of running a newspaper works. But this will be a chance to apply my business background as well—should be fun!
What I Expect
The most fun aspect of this effort, though, I fully expect, will be of a nature that’s hard to discern in the short term. It will grow slowly, almost imperceptibly, until one day two people are talking about something they read in the town paper. That feeling of shared connection and trust, brought together by the paper, is something that builds communities up. And like everything else in life, we didn’t know how good we had it until we lost it.
Having something that shines a light on a town’s good citizens, lets people know what’s happening, and creates a sense of belonging, is what a good town paper is all about. When we share the positive stories of the community with each other, we bridge divides and strengthen our ties, reminding each other that we have each other’s backs, and that our neighbors are the kind of people worth living next to. A community paper strengthens the very thing it reports on, and a stronger community breeds kindness. That kindness, in turn, invites curiosity, stories, and hope. Sounds like something worth being a part of, doesn’t it?
To learn more about the paper and see how you can help facilitate its launch, you can read more here.