Keep reading your local newspaper

To the editor:

(re: “A future for newspapers,” July 23)

Wiser words could not be written.

Weekly newspapers such as our own Riverdale Press provide more in-depth coverage of local news not found in daily newspapers. The New York Times, New York Post and the New York Daily News concentrate on international, Washington, Albany, city hall, business and sports stories.

They have few reporters assigned to cover local neighborhood news stories. These reporters have to compete against colleagues for limited available print space. As a result, daily newspapers miss significant news and political stories from Riverdale and other nearby Bronx communities.

We are fortunate to live in one of the few remaining free societies, with a wealth of information sources available. Most American cities and suburbs are down to one local daily or weekly newspaper. Newspapers have to deal with increasing costs for newsprint, delivery and distribution, along with reduced advertising revenues and declining readership.

Surveys reveal that “letters to the editor” is one of the most widely read and popular sections of any newspaper. It helps to have a snappy introduction, good hook, be timely, precise, have an interesting or different viewpoint, to increase the odds of being published. Many welcome letters commenting on their own editorials, stories or previously published letters to the editor.

Let us be grateful that The Riverdale Press affords letter to the editor writers the opportunity to express our views and differing opinions on issues of the day.

Thanks to you, ordinary citizens have the freedom to comment on the actions and legislation of elected officials.

Give thanks to those souls willing to take on the establishment and powerful special interest groups. They fill a valuable niche in our dialogue on issues.

Join me and your neighbors in reading your local weekly community newspaper. Patronize their advertisers — they provide the revenues necessary to keep them going. Let them know you saw their ad. This is what helps keep our neighbors employed, the local economy growing, and provide space for letter writers who appear in The Riverdale Press.

In the marketplace of ideas, they fill a valuable niche in the information highway.

Larry Penner

Have an opinion? Share your thoughts as a letter to the editor. Make your submission to letters@riverdalepress.com. Please include your full name, phone number (for verification purposes only), and home address (which will not be published). The Riverdale Press maintains an open submission policy, and stated opinions do not necessarily represent the publication.