Newspapers and reporters have had a rough few years, as they’ve been lumped in with those in newsertainment who led too many to become distrustful of real journalists. For the men and women working in weekly and daily newspaper newsrooms, the objective is to avoid that twisting, curating and injection of agenda that has been masquerading as “news.” We do so strenuously.

Why? Because we know how hard we must work to earn your trust; and that it is our responsibility to accurately and thoroughly report the news of our communities so you, our readers, are as informed as possible. We’ll let you form your own opinions about that information; and if we choose to give you our perspective, you’ll see it right here on these opinion pages, and no where else.

For those who believe they receive all the news they need via social media, we know it is important to be the trusted source that informs those conversations. We must be. If we don’t report on and deliver the news in a way that leads you to turn to us when you want the whole story, we are nothing.

It is difficult to overestimate how seriously we take that responsibility. During this National Newspaper Week, we will — as we always do — deliver the news about your schools, communities, favorite local sports teams, nonprofits and community organizations, churches, theaters and more. It is news you simply will not find from any other source. We help cover the heartbeats of all of our wonderful communities.

Our relationship with the communities we cover is so valuable to us because we don’t just report and write here, we live here. Thank you for trusting us to shine a spotlight on that which has been kept in the dark, to inform, to tell the stories of our community — and to do it all, for you.

2025 marks the 85th celebration of National Newspaper Week. Your Columbiana County Newspapers adhere to the adage: “Embracing Local Journalism for a Better Future.” It can’t be described any better than that.

All of us involved in the gathering, production and distribution of information through The Review, Morning Journal and Salem News are proud to do so and consider it an honor to serve you. All told, your three local newspapers have a 333 combined years of existence. And we certainly are planning on adding to that prodigious number each and every day. Thank all of you for your support.