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ctober 5-11 marks National Newspaper Week, the 85th anniversary of the week-long promotion of the newspaper industry in the United States and Canada.

Newspapers are the heartbeat of local journalism, keeping communities informed and amplifying stories you might otherwise not hear. 

This comes at a crucial time: trust in the media (such as newspapers, television and radio) is at a new low of 28% in the U.S., according to a new Gallup poll. 

But what does the “media” mean to someone taking this poll? Are they watching television news shows, or reading something online? 

We can tell you what the media means to us.

We cover town board meetings where decisions, whether they are big or small, are being made, and constituents are making their voices heard. 

We are at special awards presentations, community events, county legislature meetings, political committee meetings, high school sports games, and so much more. 

We got to tell the story recently of Alyssa Wowk – a young woman working with children and adults with special needs while simultaneously earning two college degrees and raising her three-year-old sister (all because a reader sent in an idea for a positive story). 

We were the first media outlet to report on the county’s $585 million deal to buy most of Resorts World Catskills to save it from economic despair. 

“National Newspaper Week is a time to reflect on and reinforce the vital role newspapers play in informing, empowering, and uniting our communities,” writes Carolyn Nolte, 2025 NNW Chair and President & CEO of the Florida Press Association.

You can support local journalism by subscribing, sharing stories, encouraging media literacy, and by keeping us informed–tell us your story, what you want to see inside these pages.

Schools, libraries and civic groups can also play a role in connecting our community and educating both youth and adults about the importance of the freedom of the press.