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This week is National Newspaper Week and to me, it is a reason to celebrate not only my job, but my staff, my sources and comrades, and the important role newspapers play in people's daily lives.
I have had a front-row seat to what a small-town newspaper means to a rural area for the last 30 years and from time-to-time, I have to pinch myself to remember how lucky the region is to have a local newspaper, let alone one that publishes six days a week.
I have been blessed to have been a part of The Alpena News and have seen the good, bad, and ugly in news media, the everchanging news industry, and the perception people have of news sources now.
What is important in a newspaper varies from reader to reader. The content that is important to them may not be important to another.
For some people the comics and puzzles page is a must have and an important part of a reader's day. If there is a small blip in The News' publishing of it, rest assured our phones will be ringing off the hook first thing in the morning, as they should.
Other readers focus on the obituaries to see what neighbors have been lost and when and where services for them are held.
For years, I didn't realize how many people use the paper to check their daily lottery numbers. Is it a large percentage of our readers? Probably not, but that small percentage is as important as the majority.
Of course sports, the weather page, lifestyles, classifieds, and the editorial pages are popular with many, while a host of others prefer to read the local news on the front page and the city and state news on page A3.
There is truly something for everyone whether it be on the front page, the back page, or any given page inbetween.
Of course, the news landscape is changing and has been for the better part of a decade. People consume news in many different ways. Digital media has exploded as podcasts, 24-hour news services, and unfortunately social media have become a driving force in the news business. Each threatens the newspaper business, but newspapers have overcome challenges in the past and they will again.
Still, newspapers offer so much more than those, but I believe people overlook the other content newspapers provide.
Besides the news headlines, sports scores, crossword puzzles, and death notices, newspapers also provide birth notices and anniversary and wedding announcements. There are graduation salutes, public notices, ads that promote new and existing businesses, and a host of other things that few other types of content few other types of news providers can offer.
It is those things that help to keep newspapers grinding forward. All of the above examples are local, relevant, and offer a sense of community that allows people to celebrate, mourn, and learn as one.
That isn't ordinary.
I discovered newspapers when I was a boy when I had a paper route on Alpena's northside. My parents had a subscription and every dinnertime, I excused myself from my family and the dinner table to lay on the floor in the livingroom, with the paper spread out in front of me, often with my plate on it, to read the sports section.
As I became older, the news sections followed and my journey into the media business was born, I guess.
I speak for myself when I say a community without a local paper is a community that is going to be less informed, less alert and prepared, and less likely to know what is going on with government, economic development, local charity groups, and fun and exciting events.
Would local libraries be as successful as they are if The News didn't publish the events and programs they have? Would as many people attend the local theaters to see a play or comb through local museums? Would people rush out to visit a new business in town?
My money is on those entities’ benefit, at least to some degree because of the paper and I believe it is a paper's duty to promote and serve them the best it can.
So, as National Newspaper Week wraps up, try to imagine the impact that would be felt if there was no newspaper. There are many communities that have watched their newspapers close and I would bet my last dollar that those places wished they had remained and only now realize the importance of what was lost.
The Alpena News isn't going anywhere. Our local paper thrives because of our amazing advertisers, accommodating officials, and dedicated readers.
Our detractors only motivate us to be better.
We are excited to continue to serve our community, friends, and neighbors, and look forward to doing so for many years to come.