Letter to the Editor: Support local journalism and stay informed

I would like to applaud the Newton News for their excellent sports coverage, and detailed reporting of city council and county supervisor public meetings. Reading the accounts of those sporting events and meetings in the paper, it’s like you’re actually there as a spectator.

I have noticed that there are a few loud and curiously angry folks online who always complain that the paper will post links to published articles on their Facebook page, but they can’t read them because those articles are behind a paywall.

Those folks have it wrong. It’s not that they “can’t” read the articles. They can read all the articles they want. They CHOOSE to not read the articles by refusing to pay for a subscription to the paper. Big difference.

Why should they get something for free when the rest of us, the ones who actually support local journalism and wish to stay informed about what is happening in our area, gladly pay for that information by buying a subscription? Do they think the Newton News staff, including the excellent reporters at the paper, are volunteers working for free?

They don’t even really have to subscribe, the paper is sold at dozens of retail outlets all over town.

And if they used to live here and have since moved away but want to keep up with Newton events ... SUBSCRIBE!

Maybe these are simply the kinds of folks who are used to getting all their “news” from Facebook, I don’t know. I do know that if “news” is free, then you usually will get what you paid for.

But in any case, if they don’t want to subscribe or buy a copy at the local Casey’s, fine, so be it. But don’t jump online to complain that you saw the product in the store window and really wanted it, but refused to go inside and pay for it. It makes you seem just a bit silly and whiny, don’t you think?

John Moore

Newton