April 9 is the inaugural Local Media Day, and the Charles River Regional Chamber reminded members of the role that news sites covering community news provide. Charles River Chamber President and CEO summed it up well in his message in the Chamber’s newsletter on Thursday morning.
Watertown has not only the online news source, Watertown News, but also local cable news produced by Watertown Cable Access Television Corp., with newscasts Thursday evenings, along with coverage of City meetings, sports, and other events around town. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch live and on-demand online at wcatv.org.
Watertown News depends on the support from advertisers, as well as donations from readers (including Patreon members).
See the Chamber’s letter, below.
Good morning,
The loss of local news is a nationwide crisis.
Communities across the nation now have no one consistently covering what’s happening in their town or city halls.
No one explaining or analyzing the decisions that impact our lives. No one helping voters select candidates. No one providing updates on local developments or where our tax dollars are going. Those communities also miss out on the stories that define what makes our cities and towns special.
No stories about neighbors doing extraordinary or everyday things.
No reporting on our nonprofits, local events or why a business closed or is about to open.
We lose a sense of place. We lose the tools that alert us to celebrations, changes and challenges.
We’re extremely fortunate that our chamber communities are served by local, independent news sites dedicated exclusively to relentlessly reporting local news.
All of these sites emerged to fill a vacuum created by the loss of small newspapers that, just a few years ago, had covered our cities and towns for generations.
Today (April 9) is Local News Day — a day to raise awareness of the vital work local news outlets are doing nationwide. Please join me today by thanking and financially supporting these independent local news sites. (And do yourself a favor—if you’re not signed up, subscribe to their free newsletters):
Bookline.News: Donate and subscribe.
Newton Beacon: Donate and subscribe
Fig City News (Newton): Donate and subscribe
Needham Observer: Donate and subscribe
Needham Local: Subscribe (does not currently request donations)
Watertown News: Donate and subscribe
Swellesley Report: Donate and subscribe
Support these and other independent local media as if your community depends on it — because it does.
President & CEO, Charles River Regional Chamber
617-244-1688