Why Local Newspapers Still Matter: Inside of what I Hope will be the Revival of a Hometown Tradition
By Shawn Larson
ETX BELL
For those who don’t know a lot about me, won’t know by trade, I am probably more of a social media/web guy than I was a newspaper guy. Don’t get me wrong. I grew up with the newspaper…. I delivered them, collected door to door, and even canvassed neighborhoods as a young man selling newspaper subscriptions. I always enjoyed the newspaper, sports, comics and then the front-page stories were my thing.
That said, I grew up as a pioneer of the information age, having started several businesses dedicated to the online distribution of either goods or information. That changed when I believe God opened the door for me to be in community news. I don’t think I really understood the value until I was in the thick of it. And now I believe more than ever we need a community newspaper.
I find it humorous to see some of the looks of people when I tell them I am STARTING A NEWSPAPER. I get it… it does seem kind of nuts. However, I believe we need a local connection like never before. COVID-19 locked us in our houses away from the very people we need. It thrusted us in the middle of geopolitical problems, many of which we can’t control, and away from our community issues, more of what we can control.
Second, for the first time ever in a very unique way, local businesses were having to compete on a global scale with companies that had a lot more money than they did. I’m not talking about Walmart and the like.
Moreover, corporations no longer need local branches or agencies to distribute their product as they once did. They can now connect with their clients nationally. This eliminates their need for local businesses.
Now, the consumer, without thinking about the repercussions of those decisions, is no longer able to get the customer service they once had. At best, talking to someone who barely speaks their language, to at worst, having to talk to AI or only being able to conduct business online.
On top of that few years back, as Facebook was in the business of connecting friends and family, it was not as hard to do get the word out about a product or event. Now, as Facebook and other social media companies move away from their original objective and concentrate more on viral information and change their algorithms in such a way that you have to pay to play (spend lots of money to compete), it has become harder to use it for free marketing.
Lastly, as I have built relationships with local leaders and those who are trying to promote events, it is becoming harder and harder to get information out to people. As I said before, the way that social media moves information it becomes harder for the average user to disseminate information there, and even using alternative ways like posting on their website, signs and other forms of communication are not working.
To be fair, a large portion of the problem falls on the individual themselves as they have become unengaged, unwilling to be involved in their civic and cultural responsibilities, to seek out true and relevant information. It has become easier to lean on others to seek that information for us, allowing us to fall victim of half-truths and propaganda, further isolating and dividing our culture. The Matrix movie almost prophetically spelled it out over 25 years ago.
In a nutshell
COVID-19 locked us away from our communities, keeping us glued to divisive national issues while we lost touch with what’s happening right here at home.
Small businesses are now forced to compete globally, often against corporations with far deeper pockets, and platforms like Facebook have shifted from connecting communities to prioritizing viral content and paid advertising.
Corporations have bypassed the need for local branches, and as consumers, we’ve unknowingly traded real relationships and customer service for convenience and AI chatbots.
Event organizers and local leaders are struggling to get the word out. Social media algorithms bury important updates. Websites and signs aren’t enough. And the average person is more disconnected than ever from the community around them.
But perhaps most concerning is this: we’ve become passive information consumers, relying on whatever the feed serves us, rather than actively seeking truth. That’s how misinformation thrives, and how communities fall apart.
So… Why a Newspaper?
Because I believe it’s the right tool for the right time.
A community newspaper solves real problems:
It gives accurate local news the visibility it deserves — outside of the algorithm, without the noise of national agendas.
It highlights local events that people actually want to attend — not just what’s trending in another state.
It gives local businesses a voice and a platform to reach customers who live just down the street, not compete with billion-dollar brands worldwide.
It promotes civic engagement, encouraging people to care about the city council, school boards, and local heroes.
It records our history.
It builds community pride, preserves our shared history, and offers something tangible — something you can hold, share, and trust.
Our paper won’t just print the headlines — it will become a hub for neighbors, churches, civic leaders, and businesses to reconnect.
We’re not doing this out of nostalgia. We’re doing it because this model still works — when it’s done with heart, honesty, and purpose.
If you’re reading this, I invite you to be part of something special. Subscribe. Advertise. Volunteer. Help us restore the connection that algorithms forgot and big business never cared about.
This isn’t just a newspaper, it’s a movement to bring our community back together. You were born for such a time as this. Not to drift passively like characters in Pixar’s Wall-E, but to rise as intentional citizens who recognize the need for real connection. Now is the moment to choose something better. Help us become one of the many forces working to preserve, strengthen, and uplift our hometown, together.
