OPINION
The printing press revolutionized life for people of every class and income level.
It was an incredible leveler because it increased the amount of access people had to information, which has continued to evolve since Johannes Gutenberg perfected that machine.
From Sunday through Friday, it has been the 86th National Newspaper Week.
The theme this year has been, 'Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth.'
There are times when being in this industry presents challenges, personal and professional, that are born from the fact that we live in and love the communities that we serve.
When I shop at the grocery store, I'm going to run into the people I write about.
That is a responsibility that can weigh on me, but it's one I willingly signed up for.
I imagine it's a similar feeling that police officers, firefighters and school administrators experience.
What we can do, as journalists, is to approach that responsibility with care, consideration and consistency, so our readers can know that we will treat challenging situations in the community with the consideration they deserve.
Sometimes, being a community journalist brings pure joy, particularly when we get the opportunity to highlight the positive actions and accomplishments of the people who live and work within our area. 'It’s the city council vote that affects your taxes, the school board decision involving your children, the state championship team and the new business opening on Main Street,' nationalnewspaperweek. com says. 'Newspapers put reporters in the room, ask questions and provide accurate, verified information when facts matter most.
'They also connect communities. Newspapers celebrate accomplishments, honor veterans, publish obituaries, cover emergencies and record the everyday moments that become a community’s history.'
We at the Post-Signal appreciate the opportunity to tell your stories week after week.
Abigail Bardwell is the Editor & Publisher of the Post-Signal, and she serves on both the North and East Texas Press Association and the Texas Press Association boards. She can be reached at abardwell@postsignal. com.
