Many years ago, many people predicted the demise of the newspaper genre.
And while there have been a number of newspapers nationwide that have closed their doors, community newspapers are alive and well.
Next week is National Newspaper Week, and this is a week where we can tout our successes. Our message is simple: We’re still here, and we’re here to stay.
However, our business is changing, just like The Newton County Appeal has been changing over the years.
Specifically, our business is adapting to the digital age of information. We launched our website years ago, and I’m pleased to say that we have seen more and more readers who now subscribe to our digital content. They are able to read each edition online from cover to cover, along with keeping up with any breaking news.
One of my former bosses predicted 10 years ago that web would become the primary source of information, and the print product would be secondary to the online news cycle.
I have watched steadily as that has become a reality, and the thirst for news is actually greater today than it was when I was growing up.
That’s part of the reason why we follow so many news agencies online because we don’t want to be the last one to know.
As that hunger for knowledge becomes greater, we are finding new ways to tell the story of our community.
I firmly believe that there is always going to be a market for the print product. Mamas and daddies want to see their children’s pictures and names in the newspaper, whether it’s for honor rolls, athletic achievements or when they receive their degrees from college.
New couples still want to let the community know they’re getting married through print. We still have legal notices that people need to know about.
However, we also have an opportunity to tell the story of Newton County as it happens, and not just one day during the week. We can continually add to the story as things happen. Those tools are things that we will be utilizing more in the future.
When you read a story while your browsing Twitter or Facebook feeds, there’s a good chance that the story originated with a community newspaper just like us.
If community newspapers disappeared, there wouldn’t be much original news in our country. Agencies such as The Associated Press wouldn’t have any information to draw from.
Even many of the viral stories that have been shared on Facebook and Twitter wouldn’t exist either.
I thank you for the support that you have given me and everyone here at The Newton County Appeal. If you ever have any suggestions, please let me or any of our staff know because this is your newspaper.
Contact Brent at bmaze@-newtoncountyappeal.com.
