Local journalism plays vital role in community

This week, Oct. 5-11, marks National Newspaper Week, a time to celebrate the vital role local journalism plays in building and sustaining strong, informed and connected communities. For more than three decades, the Cape Gazette has been proud to serve the Cape Region as its trusted source for news and information. Our mission has always been simple yet profound: to connect neighbors, inform citizens and strengthen the civic fabric that binds the Cape Region.

In the 32 years since our founding in 1993, much has changed in how people consume news. Information today moves faster and reaches farther than ever before. But amid the constant noise of social media and national punditry, one truth remains constant: communities without local newspapers lose more than a source of information; they lose a piece of themselves.

Study after study has shown that when a community loses its local newspaper, civic engagement declines. Fewer people vote in local elections. Fewer citizens attend town meetings or volunteer for community boards. Accountability weakens, and residents become less connected to the decisions shaping their daily lives. A strong local newspaper provides the connective tissue that keeps a community vibrant and engaged. It tells us what’s happening in our schools, who’s running for office and why a proposed development might affect the character of our neighborhoods. It celebrates the achievements of our students, highlights the generosity of our nonprofits and reminds us – often through small, human stories – of the shared values that make this region such a special place to live. When local journalism disappears, so does much of what keeps democracy at the community level alive and healthy.

In today’s world, national headlines often highlight our divisions – political, cultural and social. It’s easy to feel that the country is split into camps that won't work together. But at the local level, we see something different. Here in the Cape Region, people come together to support each other and rally behind community initiatives. The Cape Gazette has the privilege of chronicling those moments of unity and compassion – stories that remind us we have more in common than what divides us.

Local news provides a shared space where people from all walks of life can see themselves reflected. It’s not about which side of the aisle you sit on; it’s about the shared pride we have in our community, our schools, our environment and our local businesses. When readers engage with local stories, they see not just headlines, but also their neighbors, friends and fellow citizens working toward common goals. In an era where national news often pulls people apart, local journalism has the power to bring people together.

In his own commentary written for National Newspaper Week, Dean Ridings, CEO of America’s Newspapers, recently captured this truth perfectly: “But this role depends on support. Subscriptions, advertising and community engagement make it possible for newspapers to continue earning the trust that communities depend on. A strong local newspaper doesn’t solve every challenge they face, but it makes civic life, local culture and the local economy all work better. Healthy communities are stronger when their local newspaper is strong. Supporting the paper is one of the most direct ways residents and businesses can invest in their own future.”

We couldn’t agree more. At the Cape Gazette, we take pride in being locally owned, locally staffed and deeply rooted in the community we serve. Our reporters live here. Our photographers live here. Our readers – and our advertisers – are our neighbors. Every subscription, every ad placement and every letter to the editor fuels the work of keeping the Cape Region informed, connected and engaged.

Local journalism is not a relic of the past; it’s an investment in the future. Supporting the Cape Gazette means ensuring the issues shaping our region – from growth and development to the environment, education and the local economy – are covered with accuracy, fairness and care. It means helping ensure that future generations understand the power of civic participation and the importance of community connection.

If you value an informed and connected Cape Region, please support your local newspaper. Subscribe to help ensure that high-quality, independent reporting continues. Shop local and support the businesses you see advertising in the Cape Gazette. Their investment in local media helps make this community strong, unique and vibrant. Healthy communities depend on informed citizens. Informed citizens depend on a strong local newspaper. Together, let’s continue to invest in the Cape Gazette – and in the future of our community.