City urged to support local newspaper

By Letter to the Editor on November 25, 2020.

Hello Mayor Spearman,
You don’t often hear from me but I think you (and council) are doing a fantastic job of leading the city! You have not shied away from difficult decisions for the greater good. I know that’s a thankless task some days, so I want to first say THANK YOU for all you do for us.
One of those difficult decisions is knowing what local services are essential and which are just nice to have. I believe strongly that diverse community media is critical.
We are fortunate to have local TV and radio stations but they are largely entertainment focused rather than news focused. The Lethbridge Herald, however, has a wealth of local news which I pore over and share with others. The City needs to remain a part of that.
You’re probably thinking, “We WILL be a part of the news anyway so why pay more for print space?” Two reasons: Firstly, if you want to continue to get first-section access, e.g. today’s story on condo recycling, you need to continue to be a leading advertiser.
This isn’t blackmail, it’s simple economics. We’ve already seen a proliferation of front-page advertising which will inevitably creep further into the paper as private business makes more demands for their dollars.
Secondly, a city without a local newspaper is like a face without a smile. Sure, we can still function, but with much less engagement and accessibility. By the way, I’m one of those residents who prefers not to go online for information and I’m not even close to being a senior 🙂
So please support our local paper by continuing to advertise in it and advocating for it. It’s just as necessary to our culture as a museum, arts centre or recreation centre.
Sincerely,
Alice Matisz
Lethbridge