We are supposed to make our living with words, but this is going to be so inadequate to describe the depth of the way we feel on so many levels.
Two weeks ago, The Reporter asked for financial assistance from the public. That’s not something we relish having to do, but the time had come.
It’s no secret newspapers, all publications, are having a tough time as the focus of how information is shared has changed drastically in the past several years. That isn’t going to go away.
Then came COVID-19. You can guess how that has hurt. The Reporter is the very definition of “small business.”
Your response to that plea has been stunning, amazing, most welcome and, above all, gratifying.
“Thank you” seems so inadequate. But, “thank you.”
Of course we aren’t going to disclose who sent how much, and the need is still there, but the experience has also brought us something we treasure equally with the very welcome funding.
So many of you told us how you feel about us, using words like:
• “You are loved and appreciated.”
• “We will make it through these challenging times if we band together and keep praying.”
• “You are very important to us all.”
Why do comments like that warm our hearts? Because that’s exactly the way we feel about you.
We have been a part of this community since the first sheet of newsprint in a publication that was to become The Reporter & Messenger was plucked off a press 147 years ago.
And we like it that way. Sure, our goal has always been to inform you, but there’s a lot more to community journalism than that. We don’t apologize to anyone for the “journalism” part and we sure don’t apologize for the “community” part either.
Like you, we also take pride when someone from Rockdale flies a spaceship or sings on television or becomes a noted leader, when our schools are recognized, our sports teams flourish, our citizens triumph over life’s obstacles.
And we hurt with you, too. Hurt when Alcoa closed, hurt when Luminant closed, hurt when we lost our hospital, hurt through bad economies and 70 years of red water and the rate increases to cure that problem. (We pay ‘em too).
Your response to us has reinforced what we already knew. You get that. You know this is your newspaper every bit as much as it is ours.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
One donation came from a lady who wrote: “I know this is not very much, but I hope it helps a little.” Another: “I wish it could be more.” It would be worth whatever happens when you violate Shelter-In-Place to be able to give them big hugs.
The “widow’s mites” (Mark 12: 41-42) come to mind. How fulfilling to know they think of us in that way.
One of the donations came enclosed in a card that bore a print of five giraffes. It was actually a birthday gift fold-over but “Happy Birthday” was scratched out and “I appreciate you” written in.
That’s the kind of thing you do with your family.
And that’s how we feel about you. You are our family. It makes us feel so humble that you consider we are also your family.—M.B.
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