Being the goat
Many, many years ago, someone of great wisdom said, "Every organization needs a goat." We didn't take time to analyze the statement, figuring sooner or later it would make sense. Whether it's sooner or later, we don't know — but now the comment makes sense.
We had that "ah-ha" moment when we heard the city's grant program was in trouble because of "negative publicity."
That's the thing with the local newspaper. We are the scapegoat for anything that happens. Too much or too little coverage makes a difference and if something goes wrong it's easy to blame it on the newspaper.
We're the villain everybody loves to hate.
But, stop and think for a moment. How many of us would have known there was a city grant program if we hadn't read it in the newspaper? How many of us would know about anything our city and county leaders are doing if we don't read it in the pages of the local newspaper?
It's our job — yours and mine — to demand accountability by elected officials and city and county leaders. If they are spending taxpayer funds, we have a right to know. If they are making decisions that affect our well-being, we have a right to know that, too.
It's our job — the newspaper — to be the "goat" in this community. However, we also can be the best friend the city council or county commission has. They meet and we report what happens. The city decides to put up a building in the industrial park — we report it. The city decides to give taxpayer money to deserving businesses — we report it. A business closes — we report it.
We shamelessly report the activities of these government entities — good and bad. That's our job as a community newspaper. Sometimes it takes being the goat.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
