For eight years, I worked at a couple of different weekly newspapers that reported local news, sports, and features. It wasn't the same as working for a daily newspaper in a big city, but the work was important and those newspapers were loved by the communities they served.
When I was an editor of a small community newspaper, I would regularly get calls from local groups telling me the coverage they received in the newspaper was critical in getting people to attend an event or donate to a good cause. It was nice to feel like I was helping, even on a small-scale.
As the newspaper industry is on the brink of death, it's sad to think the big newspapers like the Detroit News and Free Press could close someday. It is also disheartening to think many weekly newspapers have closed and many more could follow.
But, even in this era of newspaper death, there is some hope. A friend on mine, Andrea Walker, is the editor for a new publication that covers Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. This new endeavor stepped in for Suburban Lifestyles, which was closed more than a year ago.
The Community Lifestyles Web site states:
We're committed to filling the communication needs of the families, businesses and service groups in our community.
Community Lifestyles jumped in and took over where Suburban Lifestyles left off. It is a nice publication that focuses on local interests - and that is something very difficult to find in big newspapers and the Internet.
We need more local newspapers to sprout up and for the ones currently publishing to continue doing business. These publications not only offer a great service to local communities, but they offer small businesses an opportunity to advertise at a reasonable cost.
American journalism is suffering on a national level and it's just not economics. Media is suffering from a lack of trust from the public. Too many of the big news outlets have been bogged down in taking political sides and pushing viewpoints.
You may see editorials in weekly newspapers but that's just a small part of what they bring to the proverbial table. A community newspaper biggest job is to bring the local story to readers. Hopefully, publications like Community Lifestyles thrive.
Until next time, enjoy Michigan and pick up a copy of your local newspaper.
