Local newspapers are going away, at least the print version. This is our fault. We’re encouraged to subscribe online, partly because that’s the way our culture is trending, and partly because of the cost of producing print versions. Come on, people. Online reading is like attending a zoom meeting, or remote learning versus attending class. It’s the difference between going to the live concert or listening to recorded music, going to the game, or watching on your phone. Acceptable, but lacking in magic, personal dynamics, and energy.
People sometimes say the local paper has nothing in it. Well, did you send notice of your meeting, a report on it, or an announcement of the new business you’re opening? Information about a class reunion, the book club meeting, an award earned by someone in the community, or a good deed discovered? Most local papers are a one man/woman deal, and the editor can’t be everywhere to gather the stories we care about. Much of what’s featured involves school sports; one reason is because someone took on the task of taking pictures or sending a report.
Not everyone wants to be on Facebook, yours truly included. Not everyone has a computer or cell phone coverage. So, any information you put out in that manner will not reach a certain group. I’ve missed weddings, funerals, and celebrations because the information was only on Facebook. Never mind; if you don’t know me well enough to know I don’t participate, I won’t be missed at your event. But, I’ve missed knowing about new businesses that opened in the community because nobody interviewed the owner for a newspaper article. Maybe I’d have given you a shot if I’d known, but you went out of business before I knew you were there.
We’ve become an isolated culture. We read books on a device instead of browsing the bookstore (which may go out of business soon) to look at titles, chat with other customers about what they recommend, or pick up a new flavor of coffee. We order merchandise online instead of going to a store (which may go out of business soon) where we might meet a neighbor and hear what’s new in her life. We order our prescriptions by mail, then wonder why there’s no local pharmacy when we suddenly need an antibiotic.
Have you attended a meeting of your city council, school board, county commissioners, or the town hall for a legislator or candidate for office, or do you just complain about the decisions made in your absence? Do folks even complain about that stuff at the coffee shop anymore, or just drive through for a coffee, then get on Facebook to find out what people are saying? You don’t even know what was really said if you only got it on your device.
This is our town, people. Our community. Our country. But it won’t be for much longer, unless we get off of our rears, out of our homes, off our devices, to be there in person. I was raised in a family who regarded not voting as an unforgivable sin. My precinct votes totally by mail now. It’s nice not to drive through a blizzard to vote at a local community hall, but I miss the pie, coffee, and camaraderie that was served up across the street from that hall, and still remember local folks who served so faithfully on the election board. I still vote. My parents would roll over in their graves if I didn’t.
Meet me here next week and, meanwhile, do your best. Somebody might like it.