Celebrate newspapers and their efforts to record local history

Sandy Robinson and Ben Carlson were part of news reports as birth announcements in Minnesota’s newspapers. 
Neither one was probably aware of the attention created by the event, but we could expect to see more of Sandy and Ben in the coming years. 
Likewise, we hope the local newspapers become a part of their daily routines.
Newspapers pride themselves as recorders of local history. I encourage all Minnesotans to join in celebrating their local newspapers during Sunshine Week, March 12-18. 
At its foundation, the week underscores the importance of the free flow of information for an open, effective and accountable government. 
Shedding light on information, however, is much broader than probing into government workings. Newspapers regularly strive to provide stories that people should read and like to read.
Readers may view many reports as routine, but chronicling the lives of Sandy and Ben often represents years-long initiatives to gain access to information. The items often show up on refrigerators or a permanent place in family scrapbooks. 
The news may range from publishing vital statistics to capturing photos of winning scores to detailing presentations before a school board or city council. The opportunity for anyone to collect a variety of data or enjoy ringside seats to many events is not happenstance. The press has a storied history of working to shed light on all aspects of everyday life.
Sandy and Ben’s births will remain part of local history. Newspapers take pride in helping families spread news of special events in their lives — maybe a pinewood derby or a youth sports championship. 
The achievements will be recognized, especially through high school, with honor rolls, school activities and photos in graduation editions. The relationship with their hometown papers is likely to continue with college news, scholarships, dean’s lists and subsequent careers.
I expect Sandy and Ben may someday decide to start their own families, and news pages will announce engagements and acknowledge weddings — wonderful additions to family scrapbooks. 
Their names will be in the news some more if they join boards of civic organizations, become youth leaders at church or volunteers at school. They might even start their own businesses, which will be recognized as well.
Then the families, along witholder brothers and sisters, will be planning a special anniversary celebration for their parents. Once again, the event will make the paper.
Individuals are the essence of community newspapers. After all, people make the news. 
Today’s media landscape is more fractured than ever, underscoring the value of community newspapers in providing a living history of our hometowns. Many stories are easily gathered; others are more challenging. 
They all represent the expense of time and resources by newspaper staffs. 
During Sunshine Week, we pay tribute to the millions of readers who invite newspapers into their homes each day. I speak firsthand from many years sitting behind the editor’s desk. We enjoy the relationships we’ve made, and we hope our readers do, too.
- Jim Pumarlo is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. He is a former editor of the Red Wing Republican Eagle and former board member of the Minnesota News Media Institute.