What is black and white and read all over?
A NEWSPARER!
I hope you knew that, that is an old one, plus I used "read" not "red".
I remember as a kid when visiting my grandma on the weekends she would always get a Sunday Newspaper in which I would read the funnies while she read the news reports because as a kid I did not listen to news nor quite understand it. I would look forward to these times and continue to look back on them and smile. My meemee would sit there with her cup of coffee at her small dining table while holding up the paper as I sat next to her laughing at something I probably did not even really understand and really enjoyed it.
To her I assume the newspaper gave her a way to find out what was going on in her community. A way to stay up to date on the town she lived in and its surrounding areas. Expecially since this was before facebook and other social media aspects. And to me the newspaper was a way to spend time with loved ones. The newspaper had different elements of involvement for the whole family to do as a whole by just being in the same room with one another.
Over the years I forgot about newspapers just as everyone else has moving on to technology reliance and gossip, but why cant newspapers make a comeback? Is it worth a shot? Could it do for others as it did for me and bring families together and have everyone involved?
I sure hope so and these questions and answers were a main concept and goal of mine when thinking of bringing a community newspaper to my small hometown of where I live.
Over a few months ago this thought kept coming back to my mind which I would shove away due to many excuses of my own, but eventually I spoke to my husband about it and then pushed myself to talk to my aunt which I saved for last, because I knew once my aunt knew there was no stopping the idea of a newspaper.
My aunt is great about putting something out there and not sweating the small stuff nor giving up on a thought and idea. So I knew once I told her about wanting a newspaper here it would be the first step in getting this idea rolling and the plan in motion. Immediately she set up a survey on facebook asking around who would be interested in this. From there I spoke directly with another small town publisher of his own two newspapers who was quite helpful. Then we built our facebook and website and started working on an outline for our newspaper for a set date of Issue 1 to be out and ready for 9/2/21 which was barely a month away in which my aunt had wide eyes at my goal date. I may make excuses as to not do things at times or why I cannot but if I set a date I stick to it. I push through insecurities and negative thoughts and get it done to make sure I meet my deadline.
After much work and deabte between me and my aunt we finally put in all the work we could and sent our draft off to print.
Thursday 8/26/21 evening I recieved two boxes full of newspapers, 1000 copies, to be mailed out by Thursday 9/2/21. As much as I wanted to rip the box open and view a copy I did not. I fought my husband and sister to keep them from opening the boxes and viewing them before myself and aunt and then Friday morning carried a box to my Aunts with me and as soon as she was up and alert I opened a box and pulled out a newspaper with eyes closed and opened them just at the time my aunt could view it with me. We are copublishers and only thought it fair for us to view it together.
The moment I saw it relief, happiness, and accomplishment filled me. I had stressed it would not turn out how we wanted or be here on time, but it was just as expected and more. Our outline worked perfectly despite one setback in which we had to work through and push it for the next issue.
It includes sections for kids, for adults, for informative information on our small town, and more. I hope it brings families and community together in which was the meaning behind it. A way to connect the sepearted boundaries we have created and distance we have put between us due to so many reasons. A way to bring individuals back to the school and event involvement. To stay up to date in the town one lives in.
I cannot wait to see what people have to say about it on the 2nd. Whether good or bad I am ready for the feedback to better it for our town.
What are your thoughts on a newspaper? Have you ever even read one?
If you want to check it out our newspaper for yourself our website is www.mustangcommunitynews.wordpress.com where many tabs lead you to our articles and electronic version. We also have a instagram @mustangcommunitynews and facebook Mustang Community News. We would love to hear your thoughts and impressions as well.
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