“We can’t save journalism by just begging people to subscribe,” Matt Pearce, former reporter for the L.A. Times and president of Media Guild of the West, recently said. I agree!
Matt, who was laid off from his job, has written some great articles on this subject and I would recommend his Substack account.
If you read our editor-in-chief Rhonda Van Pelt’s column last week, you know that both of us, our local journalists, photographers, designer, delivery folks and our very wonderful board are in the trenches every day working hard on delivering the best newspaper we can for you, our readers/supporters and advertisers.
We have had our highs and lows.
The PPB’s roller-coaster ride is not over yet! We have had our highs and lows in the past year.
If you know me at all or see my social media posts, you know I try to live by my three values: learn, teach and love every day. That is not easy either, but I attempt to weave those values into the PPB.
As a publisher, editor or reporter, we need to think bigger about how to save ourselves and our local media ecosystem. We need to think differently about how and what we deliver in our paper. What really do we all need and want to read and hear? To me and, I believe to many others, the PPB is one of our community’s most vital assets.
In a way, my personal values are fulfilled daily in my position with our paper and community. I learn something each and every day working with the PPB. Teaching — or some may say preaching — also effectively manifests here. And of course it’s all about love: love of community, democracy, strong journalism and loving each other as we all navigate today’s challenges, joys and traumas.
We have learned so much in this past year as we celebrated the paper returning to us. Our board and staff have faced challenges at every turn, but we have met those challenges and resolved them — or at least put a plan in place to overcome them.
We will share our annual report soon, and I guarantee it will be a good read!
Our advertisers, who are so important in our lifeblood, have supported us and helped to keep us sustainable. In this changing world of AI, we still use humans to report the news to you.
I believe finding the right formula is crucial to our success and longevity. We are looking for a few great board members as we press forward; could that be you? Especially if you have experience in the newspaper and media industry, we want to talk with you!
We want to give our advertisers the confidence that the PPB is where they want to be. We need you, our readers and supporters to let us and these advertisers know that we are on the right track!
I began this essay by quoting Matt Pearce that just saying “subscribe” is not enough anymore. We need a few great new board members.
We need more advertisers! We need your continued feedback! And we need more subscribers!
Please, once again, I humbly request that you help “Spread the Good News” by supporting local journalism. Subscribe to and support the PPB today!