For over 15 years, The Mountain-Ear has operated on a very fine line of profit vs. loss. Some years, we show a small profit, others a small loss. We never make more than we need and we always share that money back with our community by supporting every program possible.
We support our businesses, our nonprofits, our schools, our local government and our local residents.
One of my thoughts is that our newspaper is only as strong as the people that are reading it, contributing to it, advertising in it and sharing it with others. We are only as strong as the community around us.
Throughout the struggle, we continue to focus on providing local news, created by locals, for locals.
We hire from within our communities. From interns to staff reporters, graphic design to columnists, editors to photographers, and everyone in between. That means, if we can find the staff locally, we hire them.
Sometimes our staff move away. That doesn’t mean they leave the paper. It means they reside elsewhere. Some follow and work for the paper for years, from another location. They’re still part of our village, part of our community.
As we start to focus on 2022, I reflect back on 2021 and am thankful for every single person I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with.
I am confident in the direction The Mountain-Ear is taking in the new year. I am so excited to be part of this amazing team and community.
Look for exciting things happening. Exciting changes. New columns and coverage. And most of all, support local news!
As always my door is open (in Nederland and Black Hawk), my phone is on (303-810-5409) and my email gets checked regularly at publisher1977@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
