Opinion: Editorial: We Still Need Your Help

We all need community newspapers; community newspapers need your help.

Story by Mary Kimm

Thursday, March 18, 2021

A year later, Covid continues to be the most compelling, most local issue that we face.

Here at Local Media Connection LLC, Covid has posed an existential threat to continue the community service that has been ongoing since 1784. 

Every family has faced unprecedented disruption between schools being closed and the advent of distance learning; work is remote, except for those people who must go out to jobs and the risks that entails. Every business has been challenged; many have closed; some have been mortally wounded. Thousands of local people have died, with tens of thousands having been ill with Covid. We have produced dozens of stories about struggles of food insecurity, learning to “pivot,” obituaries, how to get vaccinated and beyond. We bring you details about covid, testing and vaccination with a local and personal view.  Recent column: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/12/johnson-and-johnson-jab-lubber-run-arlington-count/

An election critical to Virginia is coming up this fall. Do you know that the Democratic primary is June 8? That Republicans choose their candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and some delegates at a May 8 convention?

If you think state elections don’t matter, we’ll try to convince you how important they are between now and then. Recent story on the race for Governor: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/12/mcauliffe-picks-support-alexandria/

Perhaps you are more concerned about schools, teachers, students and holding elected officials accountable for your children’s education, teacher safety and returning to the classroom. Recent story on schools: http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/03/-person-and-home-class-one-community-reston/

You need local newspapers. Local newspapers still need your help. 

We at the Gazette Packet/Local Media Connection are so grateful for the 500 people who have pitched in more than $38,000 to get us this far. It has made all the difference. Many more people have helped by sharing our appeal, by telling us why our efforts matter to them. You send a letter to the editor here: www.connectionnewspapers.com/contact/letter/

We are more than $10,000 short of our original Go-Fund-Me goal. And we are going to need more to keep going. Soon you will hear about our membership plan. 

In the meantime, we hope if you haven’t contributed that you will consider doing so now. And if you have contributed, we hope you will consider doing so again.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-americas-oldest-newspaper

— Mary Kimm

A few other recent stories that you might find of interest:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/15/go-green-go-native/

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/10/fairfax-county-supervisors-foust-and-alcorn-years-/

How creating a daily routine can ease anxiety during times of uncertainty http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2021/mar/04/wellbeing-schedule-can-anchor-your-day/