(11/15) The Gettysburg Times and the Majestic Theater combined forces Nov. 14 to screen a small-town newspaper documentary and bring to light the story of local journalism.
A screening of "Storm Lake" allowed the public an inside look into a Pulitzer prize-winning small-town newspaper in Iowa and their efforts to bring quality news to the community.
Following the film, Tim Lambert, Multimedia News Director and host of Morning Edition at WITF-FM, Harrisburg, lead a panel discussion with Gettysburg Times Managing Editor Alex Hayes, Sports Editor Josh Martin, and Brad Simpson, President of the Pennsylvania News Media Association to discuss the role of journalists in providing essential news coverage in rural communities.
"Local, local, local," is the sales pitch for Gettysburg Times, as it strives to prove the best journalism is about the community, according to Hayes.
Although the paper has Gettysburg in its name, they are proud to cover all aspects of the surrounding areas into the news, Hayes said, adding that if it wasn’t for a certain battle in 1863 that put the town on the map, the paper would very likely be called the Adams County Times.
The Times always aims to fill its pages with as much local news as possible and wholeheartedly welcomes community feedback and engagement.
What truly resonated with the panelists was the similarity of how much the journalists in the film care about their community and their sense of duty to inform accurate relevant information to their town.
"That is a responsibility we don’t take lightly,’ Hayes said.
Simpson said the film could be replaced with any small-town newspaper in America and the story would be uncannily similar.
"Local news is part of the community fabric," Simpson said.
The tribulations depicted by the staff of the Storm Lake are actually struggles faced by journalists nationwide and throughout Pennsylvania, Simpson said.
Small newspapers must balance the desire to cover all local stories with what is most pressing day in and day out.
Despite the changing times for local journalism across the country, local reporters are still going out boots on the ground into communities and making stories known.
"The heart of why we’re here is the same," Hayes said.
In the past it wasn’t uncommon to see reporters from multiple news outlets covering a single meeting and sharing a comradery for that story. Now, as so many newspapers are stretched thin, it can get lonely for a reporter.
The panelists related to the exploits in the film including the necessity of a reporter to wear many hats.
"Titles are meaningless, everyone does everything," Hayes said.
The one good thing that has come about from COVID-19, Hayes said, was more meetings were being streamed online which has allowed one reporter to cover multiple beats happening in one night.
Local journalists understand the necessity of connecting with their audience and knowing their readers. While trying to reach as many eyes as possible, they know to be an engaging force in the community.
Local sporting events are glue that can bring communities together over a water cooler. For Martin, to be able to capture those moments of triumph or defeat is an honor and a privilege.
No matter what is going on in the rest of the world, "Two schools are heated and ready to go and that’s what matters to them," he said.
Local papers capture the "thrill and sorrow" of a small community, from the epic moment of a homecoming touchdown to a heart wrenching car wreck, Simpson said.
Making local journalism accessible in a digital age can be a challenge when there are so many avenues for news and misinformation can be prevalent.
Almost anyone can pull out their smart phone and find out who won the Yankees game, but only a local newspaper can tell you about last night’s school board meeting or the results of the high school volleyball tournament. Local news is contributed by local staff who not only know the area but have often been invested in the community for decades.
A key aspect of local journalism is that reporters need to be known throughout the community and trusted, according to Hayes. Not only does this build a repour with residents, but it also benefits the readers by getting better coverage, he said.
Any local journalist worth their salt demands to be held accountable when mistakes happen, "and they do happen," Hayes said.
"People understand if you're authentic and invested in a story," Martin said.
Martin’s most proud moments have been when the Times has connected so strongly with locals that is referred to as "the paper," a quality news source that doesn’t even need a name to be known locally.
"We have to be ‘the paper’ for the local community," he said.
The best way to support local journalism is subscriptions and advertisements.
A packed screening theater at the Majestic confirmed the desire for local journalism is alive and well in Adams County.
But as the film stated, over 65 million people across America live in "news desert" with one newspaper or none at all, the panelists urged a continual investment in local reporting.
"It’s your neighbors covering your neighborhood," Hayes said.
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