When I looked at my calendar recently, it hit me.
I’ve been in Mariposa County for 10 years. We’ve owned this newspaper for eight years.
Where has time gone?
Actually, I was more amazed that I have been in one place for 10 years. Other than when I was growing up, this is by far the longest I have stayed in once place.
Double, in fact, as my previous longest stint was five years in the metropolis of Wolf Point, Mont. Mostly it’s been three to four years somewhere around these United States.
Of course, this is different because I just don’t labor away at some newspaper, I own the place. (Along with Nicole, of course.)
What a difference that makes.
Business ownership is everything it is cracked up to be: tiring, stressful, without a hope of getting a vacation. The list could go on and on.
I had actually experienced this when I was growing up. My parents owned a hot spot called the Midway Bar in the sprawling town of 100 people called Shirkieville, Ind. I saw what business ownership was back then.
And apparently I never learned that lesson.
Yet in spite of all the pitfalls and headaches and wondering if there will ever be light at the end of the tunnel, in reality, there are also some rewarding parts of doing this newspaper thing.
For one, it has been quite rewarding to take what I considered a poorly done product and turn it into what I consider a real, local newspaper. Sure, people will argue that point, but I believe overall, we have pointed the Gazette in the right direction and continue to make it better all of the time.
The formula isn’t rocket science, for sure. Don’t be bias, listen to people and cover the issues fairly. That was not happening when we first arrived but over time, we have fixed its woes as best as possible.
Another quite rewarding part of this situation is unfolding for me right now.
As anyone not living under a rock for the past decade knows, the newspapers business is rough, especially for small independent publications like ours. The internet, AI and so much more make it harder and harder.
It’s not harder for us to deliver accurate news, it’s harder for us to convince people that Facebook is not a news source. Too many people are too gullible when it comes to what they believe.
“Well it was on the internet, so it must be true.”
Ah, citizen “journalists” and the audiences who buy it hook, line and sinker.
This situation was so bad a group of us “smalls” decided we were going to do something to at least try and combat what is happening. The group we formed a year ago is much more mature these days.
And next month, we (Nicole and I) are going to be making a trip to Sacramento to meet with some of those “higher ups” to explain our situation and see if we get a response. We may not, but we are now at least in a position where some of those in power have agreed to hear our story.
Sure, some of it is kind of counter intuitive, but what do you do? Sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire. We cannot stand by and let billionaires who have profited from social media and other forms of technology simply run over us without a fight.
We may get run over anyway, but I’d rather be kicking and screaming on my way out than rolling over and curling into the fetal position.
The only way, in my opinion, to get anything done is to at least talk to people who may have some power and influence. In the big picture, it is language and words that make the world go around.
How ironic that we are in the communications business and are probably the worst communicators on the planet. Kind of like the plumber with leaky pipes or the landscaper with a crappy yard.
That’s why I think it is so important to discuss these issues on a higher level. To let those in power know there are folks out here like us and we do want to do the right thing and help educate the public on issues which impact their lives.
You see, that has been the goal since the beginning. Getting out accurate and important information to the people who pay taxes and drive on roads and do just anything you can imagine.
The threat to the media in general from our current government cannot be ignored. They want the information controlled and only their message to be heard. That is where this social media situation has such an impact.
And the vulnerable people who believe it.
This is the true threat to our society and democracy in general. And it is why there is a group of us trying to make a difference.
We have never claimed to be perfect or anything of the sort. But we do strongly believe we have the right mission in mind and that informing the public with accurate information is an honorable goal.
Maybe we are paddling upstream. No, we are paddling upstream. But if you don’t paddle at all, there is no chance you will make it to the shore.
I have no illusions this effort may fall flat on its face. It is nearly impossible deal with powerful billionaires who control not just huge technology companies, but the message itself. It is an uphill climb.
But climb I will until someone cuts the rope. I have to take on this mission because I believe in it so much — and this great country where I have had the privilege of living my entire life, including Shirkieville.
One of the great lessons in life I have learned is to never give up. Never stop fighting for what you believe in no matter the odds. It may be a futile battle, but it would be worse to never had at least made the attempt.
This country is at a crossroads. We are on the cusp of being controlled by the government and its billionaire accomplices. This cannot happen. We cannot let a handful of powerful people fundamentally change our nation.
That may sound like a grand and crazy statement, but it is the heart and soul of my battle and the many other battles waging across this country.
A truly free nation means the exchange of information freely and openly. We cannot let that change no matter the odds against us.
The battle looms large.
Greg Little is editor of the Mariposa Gazette and can be reached at greg@mariposagazette.com
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