Ken
O’Brien
This notice appeared in today’s Southbridge News.
There was a time when the local newspaper was the go
to source for information about local events. Not only was its role respected
but timeliness was a treasured virtue.
That era has essentially passed.
The local paper still serves a role as the
compendium of upcoming and recent events. But anything related to the reporting
of breaking news has been abandoned.
The local paper was also the forum for residents to
express their opinion about matters affecting the community. That function has
also, in large part, disappeared.
Aside from reporting on and providing picture
spreads of community activities, the local paper serves functions related more
to its own survival rather than to the interests of the local citizenry. It
provides an outlet for local advertisers and legal notices. It also provides
what little is left as an entry point for those interested in a career in the
dwindling field of print journalism.
