National Newspaper Week may seem like just another token recognized week to some, but for staff at community newspapers across Canada October 4 to 10 is a chance to put aside those looming deadlines, if just momentarily, and reflect on the important work that we do.
Although at their root they are businesses like any other, community newspapers are still considered a bastion of fairness, advocacy, objectivity and truth by the readerships they serve, as well they should be. Readers pick up their community newspaper to find out what is happening in their area, and they expect and deserve the best and most accurate stories journalists can give them.
In an era where the importance of professional journalism can sometimes take a backseat to blogs and inflammatory online groups, more and more people are coming back to newspapers for a well-rounded look at the burning issues of the day. The idea that everyone with a handheld device can be a citizen journalist has hampered the quality of the information being shared online.
Not to belittle those citizen journalists and bloggers who have taken the ethics and sound practices of professional journalists and applied them to their own community projects. This is important work and caters to niche readerships that need to be addressed.
One only need to look at social-media platforms such as Facebook to see how quickly truth and fairness can go astray. With anyone able to instantly share information or stories online, potential for the spread of unsubstantiated rumours or unconfirmed information has become rampant in our age. A scan of Facebook’s newsfeed and community-group pages finds an abundance of rumour-mill gossip and outdated and often inaccurate posts.
Community journalists are never perfect; nobody is. The age-old process of putting together a newspaper, which, in Canada, began in the mid-1700s, has many checks and balances in place, including the invaluable proofreading process that many have completely abandoned online. These practices ensure the information you are reading on newspaper pages is as accurate and balanced as possible.
And while our industry struggles to keep up with technology and the immediateness of today’s news and stories, it’s comforting to know that community newspapers are still here, constantly putting words to print, but also taking a breath here and there, double-checking the facts while others prematurely click their mouse buttons or tap their mobile devices.
