Where Do We Go From Here?

This issue of The Message includes an envelope you can use to renew your annual subscription – or start a new one. We hope you will consider one of those options as you look through this issue and get a feel for what our Catholic community newspaper brings into your home.

Recently, I read an essay on community newspapers written by Jeff Jarvis for the World Association of Newspapers. Jarvis, who created and founded “Entertainment Weekly,” has worked for several well-known newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News and San Francisco Examiner. In the essay, Jarvis discussed what newspapers might look like in 2020.

He summarized his view in a single sentence: “Newspapers will survive and prosper only if they join in the larger, open network of news.”

Funny thing is, the essay is not recent. Jarvis wrote those words in 2007 – almost a decade ago.

He had an interesting take on how newspapers can survive in a world where people seemingly grow more dependent on digital content by the hour. “We need to do what we do best and link to the rest,” he wrote.

The Message must serve its readers. To do that, we must recognize that we are, indeed, part of a larger, open network of news. As a result, Jarvis’ words ring very true – this newspaper must do what it does best and link to the rest.

From here, The Message is serving readers best when it enables our 12-county Catholic community to connect on a regular basis. Certainly, readers find content from outside the diocese in every issue. But I don’t believe we can “hang our hat” on stories, photos, columns and other content from providers like Catholic News Service and the Catholic News Agency.

The Message is a weekly. CNS and CNA generate content daily. By the time we could get you a lot of that news, it would be too old to be truly useful.

Instead, The Message will serve you and all Catholics across our diocesan community by bringing you news you won’t be able to get anywhere else. That news is local news … community news.

We are grateful for the ways you have embraced that vision by stepping up to help us cover your parish communities. You send us news and photos. You post links to social media that we can follow to get information. You let us know about events coming up.

I recently saw a report on “community journalism” prepared by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. One finding confirmed something I’ve known for years – that papers like The Message (and even its web-only counterparts around the country) mostly operate with small staffs and, as a result, can produce only a limited amount of content.

Our “citizen reporters” help The Message do more than the staff could on its own. We thank you – and credit you for making our vision a reality. You’re reading Southwest Indiana’s Catholic community newspaper because so many people across our parishes help us on a regular basis.

We are committed to this approach, and we hope you will support it by subscribing to print, digital or both. And thank you for welcoming us every week.