This week is National Newspaper Week. This year’s theme: Journalism matters. Now more than ever.
In some instances NOW is capitalized. I think that’s a reaction to national publications dealing with the accusations of “fake news” from the White House. Still, journalism is just as important at the local level.
Citizens need to stay informed, but it would take a Herculean effort if you tried on your own to stay informed about all the news found in the Enterprise. Our news staff (Brenda Wade Schmidt) reports on the city boards, school board and county commission. She keep readers informed about fires and crime. She produces up-to-date calendars of community happenings. She attends and reports on a wide range of community events. She writes feature stories about your friends and neighbors. It takes a special kind of person to face a blank page every day and fill it with news. Before heads get too swollen in the newsroom, I’d remind them that they don’t do this alone.
The office, circulation (ML Headrick) and advertising staff (Roger Janssen) at the Enterprise are just as dedicated to doing their best for readers each week.
But there are others, beyond the staff at the Enterprise, that deserve credit for supplying this community with news.
The U.S. Postal Service has its critics, but I’m not one of them. They handle the Enterprise each week, ensuring prompt, precise delivery.
We appreciate the loyal subscribers who keep the post office busy each week. But subscriptions don’t pay all of the bills. We also need advertisers to keep this operation rolling and I’m happy to say that in Flandreau and the surrounding area we have some loyal businesses who support their local newspaper.
We’re not blind to all the different sources people have for news. It seems like we’re bombarded by TV, the internet and social media. Many of them are not known for their objectivity. There is, however, one place where you can find professionally produced, trustworthy news about your community. And that’s in the newspaper.
We don’t say it often enough, but thanks for giving us the opportunity to serve you.
Whether you’re a subscriber, an advertiser or a news source, Newspaper Week is your week, too. We couldn’t do it without you.
