Hot Pursuit

The power of the press is an amazing thing.
Each week thousands of people depend on their local newspaper to tell them the news and information they need to know about life in general. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not so good, while other times it’s plain old indifferent. 
When we think of power, we often think big. In the case of the media, it’s the New York Times or the Washington Post that most likely comes to mind. Within Minnesota, we think of the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. But small community newspapers like the Steele County Times are also powerful and most relevant to the communities they serve. 
The theme for this year’s National Newspaper Week is “Power of the Press.” Newspaper week is being recognized across the land this week, and it gives us a chance to remind readers about the powerful influence we play in their lives.
This year is the 75th anniversary of National Newspaper Week. Managers at the National Newspaper Association created the week in 1940 as a time to celebrate the newspaper industry. 
Doomsayers have been talking about the demise of newspapers for many years. While many daily newspapers in major cities have struggled, it’s a whole different story with community newspapers serving the small towns of America. Community papers are thriving! 
Newspaper week is a chance to remind our readers of what newspapers mean to them, explaining our watchdog role, touting our coverage of local government and politics, and reiterating our commitment to providing reliable community information and public notice. 
The Steele County Times is one of maybe a small handful of news organizations that care at all about what happens in Blooming Prairie, Owatonna and Steele County. The local newspaper is mighty important to those who call those places home. 
Community newspapers have the mighty power to bring about great good and make profound differences in the communities they serve. At the Times, we’re always trying to find ways to endure and prosper, but more importantly, we always strive to build trust with our readers. We want to be that powerful force within the community that people depend upon.
Readers often have a unique relationship with their local newspaper. One week the paper will be praised and then the next it may be despised and cussed with expletives we don’t care to repeat. It is not only impossible to always be liked, but it is not really that important for us. What matters most to us is that we are respected and even more importantly trusted.
The secret to a successful community newspaper is to be trusted with readers. After all, that is the true Power of the Press. We all know the power of the press is still a force to be reckoned with across this nation. 
It’s time to get down to business and go in hot pursuit of showing readers the amazing power of the press.