Every Friday on AM1470 KELA’s “Let’s Talk About It” show, I invite Chronicle Publisher Michael Wagar to join my discussion about community issues and upcoming headlines. I believe media crossover is important for an informed community. A subscriber of the Chronicle may want to voice their opinion on the only daily radio call-in show. A radio listener may hear an issue and want to write a letter to the editor in their local newspaper.
On Friday, I teased Michael while on the radio show about there being too many “Our Views” patting themselves on the back. I told him that having someone else pat them on the back would be much more effective. Well, here I am. While I may not agree with every opinion, or every story, or every position The Chronicle takes, I truly believe their reporters and staff are important to our community.
As a subscriber and reader, I am impressed with their investigative reporting and positive community stories. Chronicle Editor and reporter Natalie Johnson won a first-place C.B Blethen Award for investigative reporting not once, but two years in a row. Reporter Alex Brown earned a third-place honor for his feature story, “I’m addicted to this Mountain,” and Reporter Jordan Nailon won the 2018 Dolly Connelly excellence in environmental journalism award — all very prestigious awards.
And, I can’t forget to mention Will Rubin’s coverage of Twin Transit. His coverage was extensive and in-depth to say the least. (Nobody get on that reporter’s bad side!)
As a business owner, I see extensive value in the paper and online readership. My law firm Althauser Rayan Abbarno has not only published legal notices with the paper, but we regularly advertise. Their staff is easy to work with and we have seen a very positive return for our investment. There may still be complaints of late papers, but Chronline.com is inexpensive (free with subscription) and the Chronicle has more than 18,000 followers on social media. For Althauser Rayan Abbarno, there is a lot of value in advertising our legal services and communicating with clients and potential clients.
Lastly, as an elected city councilman in Centralia, I have appreciated the reporters and staff for their professionalism and coverage of the issues that are important to our community. I truly feel for the reporters, like Will Rubin or Katie Hayes, who must find ways to make “design guideline modifications” or “treatment plant upgrades” as exciting and important as I find them. Their job is to get the issue out for public consumption, and I believe they do it well. I don’t have to always agree with the story to appreciate the importance of the news.
The Chronicle Editorial Board pats itself on the back, and deservedly so.
They do deserve credit and pats for bringing important issues to our attention so our community can agree, disagree, and debate. The reality is that we need a local paper that brings us, the consumers, the news and opinions from our community. We don’t need to always agree with our local paper. Sometimes, having a local paper you disagree with is just as important.
To Michael Wagar and The Chronicle: Thank you and here is your pat on the back from me.
