I might be old-school; no, I am definitely old-school and proud of being so. When I read —something that I believe is a must to be a writer — I want to hold the pages of what I’m reading in my hands. I want to smell the aroma of ink and feel the paper. I want to hear the paper rustle as I turn it from one page to the next.
I don’t want to read words from a computer screen, an iPad, or a smartphone. I want to read, mark on the pages, dog-ear the page corners, then save it. I want my papers to be repurposed as bird cage liners, tabletop covers to catch splashing paint, and then used for a fire starter in the wood stove this winter.
The newspaper we all know here in Pinedale took a smashing blow of proposed annihilation because of the non-empathy encased with News Media Corporation and the conviction of corporate America. We came close to losing our local news, which is handed to us on printed paper.
The lack of caring in corporate America stems from the prevalent focus on maximizing shareholder value above all else. This is known as “shareholder primacy.” It prioritizes the financial interests of shareholders at the expense of employees, customers, and the community. The relationship between corporations and communities is said to be complex, but it is not. Corporations are solely driven by profit maximization, leading to a neglect of community well-being.
We must uphold the traditional values of print journalism even if publications around the globe are ceasing the beloved hand-held papers for the minicomputers in our pockets. Print journalism is vanishing at an alarming rate, and this is why it feels so special to be a part of the Pinedale Roundup — a newspaper that still has value in a community that understands the importance of a printed newspaper. I applaud the Roundups editor, Cali O’Hare, for looking at the corporate world that she has been dealing with and not just saying, “NO,” but, “HELL NO!”
Newspapers have been printing news for hundreds of years. While online news can be just as valuable, there is a level of credibility lost. An argument can be made that online platforms allow for a real-time news response. With that being said, it also leads to more errors within the press because things aren’t reviewed as thoroughly as they would be in print. Also, this potentially false information will be spread at an unfathomable speed, making errors much more difficult to correct.
Johannes Gutenberg’s moveable-type press marked the beginning of the printing revolution in the Western world, a colossal moment in the history of information and learning. With access to printing presses, scientists, philosophers, politicians, and religious officials could replicate their ideas quickly and make them available to large audiences.
What needs to be remembered by the naysayers who talk down the press is that being involved with a newspaper or being a newspaper reporter can be a thankless job. One week, you are highly praised because the newspaper covered a family member receiving great accolades that should be shared with the community. Then, the next week cousin Al gets covered having a drink in the bar with a soon-to-be canine cadaver, and the entire newspaper becomes a wrinkled rag that “only prints false news.” The reality is that the newspaper only prints what is happening in the community it serves.
While there is a great fulfillment in the work of a reporter, many experience a lack of appreciation for their efforts and face a challenging, often stressful, environment. Being involved with the media and journalism, especially in print, is not a high-paying field.
Many reporters struggle to make a living, particularly outside major metropolitan areas. Reporters work long hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and covering breaking news or working on multiple stories can be extremely demanding and require significant overtime.
Communities, especially small communities, can be critical of reporters and their work, even when they are doing their job professionally and are hit hard with public criticism and a huge lack of appreciation. The public often views reporters as a negative, especially when they’re reporting on difficult or controversial issues. Then they become upset and boycott a reporter, refusing to cooperate or provide information.
The decline of print media and the rise of online news consumption have created uncertainty in the industry. Reporters feel like they are constantly adapting to changing expectations and technologies. Layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts are not uncommon. While journalism can be rewarding in terms of learning, meeting new people, and contributing to society, the challenges can make it feel like a thankless job for many.
As for myself, I share my words inside the folded pages of the Pinedale Roundup to perhaps evoke a thought that comes from within who you are. I do this with no fear of the words I use. I am not trying to advise you because I have some type of strange intellect and distinguished understanding. I can share my thoughts and beliefs because I’ve bumbled through countless wrong choices and mistakes at a much higher rate than most.
I have learned from reading and studying the words of literary masters to have the courage and freedom to speak my mind, so I will never surrender myself to the whims of constant approval. My voice shall stay the same with who I am in this ritual of writing words in a quiet rebellion. My portrait is untouched by time. This illusion will not dissolve. Through the broken cracks, my echo will be heard with amplified vocal sounds of a life lived. - dbA
You can find more of the unfiltered insight and the Art of Dan Abernathy at www.contributechaos.com.
