'Daily Rags' are Community Treasures

To the Editor:

Never has there been more information available at our fingertips. Given a computer and an internet connection, anyone can read and produce material for the world to view. Amidst that sea of oftentimes contradictory information, we have our steadfast local newspapers.

Historically, print media in the United States – mostly local – has been the reliable lifeline of how we’ve communicated events and happenings dating back to pre-Revolutionary War era. Local journalists, editors and publishers have humbly been “on the beat” to provide us with the “daily rag” for centuries.

Now I fear we’re at risk of losing them due to our own abandonment. Too many people seem to be resourcing the internet for their news. While I’m a user of social media and regularly access long-form podcasts, I do not confuse the rants and blogs of social media as news. Never have, never will. Suffice it to say, always consider the source before adopting information into your pool of personal “knowledge.”

My point? We need to consider better support of our local print media. We need to think about what our world would look like without a local newspaper. Where will you go to find about local happenings? Sporting events? Notices of social, community and faith events? Tributary reads of obituaries and memorials? … and so much more.

If you don't subscribe or advertise, do so. In all practicality, the loss of any local newspaper is largely a non-reversible event. “Daily Rags” are community treasures and we need to assure their survival.

Jim Foreman

Duncansville

Editor’s Note: Thank you. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.