At a recent regional state League of Women Voters meeting, a discussion developed around local issues, education, and the important role the media plays in informing citizens. I mentioned that the town of Harvard receives excellent news coverage from our weekly, the Harvard Press.
It was as if I had suddenly become a rock star. The room echoed with “Ooohs” and “Aaahs” of envy. Several people said Harvard is very lucky to have an independent newspaper. One person confided, “What I wouldn’t give to have our newspaper back! It left a hole in our town fabric.” Another said fervently, “I hope your paper stays with you.”
It made me realize how important having a local paper is to Harvard. This goes beyond community notices and police news. The Harvard Press reports on what occurs in many local organizations, the schools, and, most importantly, on all levels of town government. That is no small endeavor, but it is extraordinarily important. It is the difference between what goes on behind closed doors and in secret, and what occurs front and center on a public stage. We can’t all attend town committee and board meetings, but our local newspaper often does, and it does a great job keeping us informed.
Let’s not ever take this gem of a resource for granted. When a town loses its news coverage, it loses a piece of its soul.
The League of Women Voters of Harvard is making a donation to support the Harvard Press because a newspaper is critical to good governance—and that is a core value of the League of Women Voters.
Meg Bagdonas, president
League of Women Voters of Harvard
