It’s an exciting time to be a journalist in small-town America. Newly elected county officials have started their terms, and some of them are trying to make some big changes to deliver on their campaign promises. And perhaps more than ever, the decisions being made in Washington are having an impact right here.
When people try to address big issues, their solutions tend to create new problems. Sometimes they’re unintended side effects, and other times they reveal officials’ real priorities.
Journalists get to connect the dots and see who will be positively and negatively affected. We get to meet people, learn new things, and get many different perspectives. It’s mentally stimulating and rewarding work.
But it can also be depressing to learn how bad things are in some areas. Particularly for our farmers, who have been struggling to dig themselves out of the hole after several poor seasons. And our schools, emergency workers, and local businesses, who are often badly understaffed due to the housing crisis.
I try to boost the voices of the people who have realistic answers to these problems (and have thought about their side effects). But right now, the solutions are still far away. But some farmers and local businesses are fighting to keep their heads above water.
Things may also get much worse for federal aid recipients, like some seniors, and legal migrant workers. And there are always the problems of crime, homelessness, and violence.
It’s important to stay engaged and informed, have conversations with local officials and lawmakers, and volunteer or work in the community. But I also hope everyone is giving support and encouragement to each other.
It doesn’t matter where you are on the political spectrum. You probably have a friend or neighbor who is going to face some hard times this year. We might not be able to single-handedly prevent these big national issues from hitting us close to home, but we can always be good friends and listeners.
And this should be extended to everyone. Ultimately, we all need to be willing to work together to address the issues.
