It’s National Newspaper Week.
And while it’s a time to acknowledge the longstanding role newspapers have played in the communities they serve, it’s an occasion to celebrate the ways journalists are sharing the news more efficiently than ever, thanks to the internet.
National Newspaper Week is also an invitation to appreciate how important trustworthy sources of information are. The internet is increasingly brimming with news of dubious credibility, content that tells only one part of the story, and information that is meant to influence, rather than inform.
That stands in sharp contrast to the Red Deer Advocate, which along with other North American newspapers, is proud to embrace this week.
Today’s Advocate readers are likely to check reddeeradvocate.com first thing in the morning to learn of breaking news or developments overnight.
Then, many of our readers will enjoy the print edition, which is a compelling distillation of what matters — both in central Alberta and places further afield.
Readers of the print edition savour the energies of the region’s largest news-gathering team, agree or disagree with the thoughtful commentary, chuckle over the comics, test their wits against the puzzles and dig into in-depth sports coverage.
Throughout the day, our readers will log onto our website to keep abreast of what’s new and what’s important. They have confidence that reddeeradvocate.com strives to be the first to deliver the news, and is committed to fairness and balance.
There’s no better example of the importance of trustworthy journalism than the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to shape our lives. The internet is populated by a number of crackpot tales and alarmist warnings that misinform the public and put health at risk.
Newspapers and their websites are where readers have gone when they’ve needed reliable information about the virus, its spread and its prevention.
In central Alberta, people eager to be informed about COVID-19 and other pressing topics have relied on the Advocate, which has never before experienced such strong use of its website. The number of visits can exceed more than one million page views a month.
The entire staff of the Red Deer Advocate – whether we write, edit, help customers or deliver papers – are proud to serve our community.
It is our pleasure to shine a light on causes that deserve your attention, to inform you of upcoming community events and to celebrate collective achievements we all share in.
It is our duty to report on the news, courts and local government, and yes, matters that bring a collective tear to our eyes.
You can be certain the newspaper will continue to advocate for initiatives that are important to the region, such as long overdue improvements to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Please help us continue to do what we do best: provide compelling journalism that you can rely on.
And please contact me at any time at david.marsden@reddeeradvocate.com.
Or, email circulation@reddeeradvocate.com to become a subscriber.
David Marsden is managing editor of the Red Deer Advocate.