In the beginning, newspapers were the only source for news.
Yes, we still had the party line where everyone got the skinny on their neighbors comings and goings. But it wasn’t until we read it in The Paper that we knew for certain that the stories were true.
Then, with the advent of radio and television, the hometown newspapers began to take second place to the immediacy of national news in real time.
Still, newspapers continued to be the best choice for local happenings and local issues.
When I was in high school, only a small group of people had access to computers. These were hobbyists who got excited about a new language that included words like kilobytes and protocol and alphanumeric.
In college, I took a very basic class that gave me a small taste for the possibilities…and then I went back to my typewriter.
My girls had more exposure to the medium in school, and with their encouragement, we purchased our first home computer to help with intermediate-level schoolwork.
So, by the time we launch the Freestone County Times in 2002, I knew we would quickly need a website for the newspaper. And, less than 10 years later, set up a social media page on several platforms.
Now – with the advent of smart phones and the continuing array of devices – the vastness of the online world has become a permanent fixture in the palm of our hands.
Yet even now, community newspapers are still one of the best sources for community news.
Newspapers are a reflection of the hometowns they inhabit.
Newspapers chronicle the lives of their readers and record the events of their communities.
Their reporting inspires change, encourages growth, and celebrates success.
National Newspaper Week is being observed next month, October 6-12, 2024. This year’s theme is “Telling Our Stories.”
The ‘Times’ family hopes to continue telling the stories of our community for a long time to come.
Karen E. Leidy, Editor
