To the editor:

As I sit down to renew my subscription to The Messenger, I also felt the need to say thank you for the service that this newspaper provides for our community.

There is absolutely no question that local, state and national newspapers are in distress as we move to an internet-based society. Unquestionably, The Messenger has felt this challenge as much as any. The loss of weekly advertising funds from grocery stores, department stores, auto dealerships and other businesses has been dramatic. At the same time, the public’s desire to be informed with in-depth reporting has waned. We all want to know the what, but not necessarily the why.

The Messenger has noticeably shifted its reporting towards the support of our local community and area. Fort Dodge is a small town as cities go, but we have so much to offer. Whether it be our fine arts, our schools, our service groups or the extraordinary individuals, young and old, who make up the fabric of our daily lives, The Messenger is there to help spread the word and keep us informed.

It seems that I talk to far too many people who proudly proclaim that they don’t need to read the newspaper. They can click on a website on the internet or watch television and know all they need to. This is simply not true. Information on the internet must be searched to be found. The staff of The Messenger has done an incredible job of supporting the people of the community not just with a headline or news brief, but with full explanations to provide better understanding. The local businesses that still advertise make themselves and their products and services available to all of the print readers without search engine optimization or complicated algorithms. Instead, they tell their friends and neighbors what they have to offer. For the reader, holding and reading the newspaper provides a tangible connection to a wider world.

The local newspaper is the common thread that binds a community together. It provides context, continuity, history and a sense of place that would otherwise not exist.

My renewal of The Messenger today is five bucks a week for six newspapers a week. That is less than most single fast food sandwiches or a single cup of a fancy coffee or latte. I can’t imagine starting my day any other way. What a bargain.

Once again, thank you.

Scott Johnston

Fort Dodge