"Carrying the torch of freedom" is the theme of National Newspaper Week, Oct. 4 - 10.

We are so fortunate to live in a country that allows a free press. A press that can operate without government interference, and is in fact a press charged with being the watchdog of our government all the way from the town halls here in Monroe County to Nashville to Washington, D.C. It is our job to watch our public officials, to watch how your tax dollars are being spent, and to report that to you.

And, if we do our job correctly, then we have given you the information you need to make educated decisions about the issues important to you. You can exercise your freedom of speech by expressing your opinion about how your government is being run in a letter to the editor or marching on the courthouse steps. And you can exercise your freedom of choice when you walk into the voter's booth to choose people you think will best represent you.

During the past year there has been a lot of bad news about newspapers laying off employees and making budget cuts that could be detrimental to their ability to gather and report the news. Some newspapers have even stopped the presses forever and closed their doors or chose to produce their news online. Just like many other industries across our nation, we have had a tough year.

There are many questions that remain about the future of newspapers. But there are some definite answers too: Newspapers may be changing and trying to catch up with the times, but the work that we do is vital to a healthy democracy. There will always be a need for what we do. People want and need information: What did the County Commission vote on at this week's meeting, will that new zoning ordinance affect your property, is your child's school closed because of illness, when is the 50th anniversary celebration for that sweet couple at your church, what groceries are on sale this week, so you can save money. Your local newspaper can provide the answers for all those questions and more.

Help us celebrate National Newspaper Week. Go buy a paper. Let us know how you think we could improve. Tell us what you like about the paper. Become our fan on Facebook. Send us a news tip. We appreciate your opinions and support.

editor@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101