This is our week

by J. Patrick Reilly

Everything gets a week to call their own and this week is National Newspaper Week.

While I doubt if our President is celebrating this, I hope you who read the papers are aware of their importance.

I just went through our pages this week.  I see I lost a classmate, a good friend from my youth who was a frequent visitor to our farm.

I am reminded the bakery we all love has closed its doors.  Highland school has celebrated 150 years.  Highland and Iowa-Grant held their Homecomings.

And there is much much more.

Here are some reasons why local newspapers are important and we thank you for your support.

- Local newspapers drive political engagement, particularly among younger voters. Young people are often characterized as the future of the nation, and that’s one notable reason to support local journalism. 

- Local journalism can contribute to a more knowledgeable and engaged electorate, which is an invaluable benefit at a time of waning voter participation and reduced accountability of government.   

- Local journalism helps build communities. Community-building is another benefit of strong local journalism.   

- Local journalism keeps people up-to-date on their own communities. Cable news networks and their affiliated websites primarily focus on national and international news, leaving viewers and readers who rely exclusively on these mediums for their news with little or no access to information regarding issues affecting their own communities. Local newspapers have long filled that void, providing an invaluable benefit and a means for readers to learn what’s being done and what can be done about issues affecting their daily lives and the communities they call home.  

- Local journalism holds local government officials accountable. We publish budgets, agendas and cover meetings.  We provide what is going on in public by the boards that affect your wallet.

There are many more reasons why your newspaper is a valuable tool for your local knowledge.  But you are reading this so you already know that.