Once upon a time in small town America,  little Jimmy would throw the paper from his bicycle from a satchel hanging on his handlebars. From there, the newspaper would be fetched by Fido and brought to the breakfast table where it would be read over a cup of coffee. Articles are mainly written about local events – the types of events that rural America would completely miss out on otherwise.

In today’s fast food society, no one has time for this quaint aspect of Americana. “Mom and pop” newspapers  have had to change with the times. They have to eschew this cost inefficient delivery method for off the rack and mailing papers to their subscribers instead. 

Running a newspaper, especially for a small community, may not sound rewarding. The hours are horrible – I know a man who runs a newspaper, and works 70 hours a week on average, and it’s not unheard of him to work 90 hours per week. He is always going to local sporting events, covering police calls, and visiting local fairs. Despite all of this, he loves what he does. He loves seeing the community grow, especially the local children as they grow to adulthood and join the community as productive citizens. The work truly is rewarding.

I believe that our local newspapers should be supported, so that they can thrive. They have their hands on the pulses of our communities, and they serve a vital function in our culture. What about you?