The heartbeat of small towns

Why supporting your century-old newspaper matters more than ever

In a time when headlines travel at lightning speed and much of what we read online comes from distant sources, it’s easy to forget the value of something close to home: your local community newspaper.

At The Colorado County Citizen, we’re not just here to report — we’re here to connect, inform, applause and defend the heartbeat of our communities. We’re committed to telling the stories that matter right here – from school board meetings and city council decisions to youth and high school sports, neighborhood issues and local heroes.

But producing quality, independent reporting takes time, resources, and commitment. And we can’t do it alone.

Here’s why your support of The Colorado County Citizen means everything:

1. A Chronicle of Local History

Rural newspapers are the keepers of the past. For over 168 years, The Colorado County Citizen has documented the moments that shape our community — births, weddings, local milestones, economic changes, community events, and, of course, local politics. Our paper serves as a historical archive, preserving the stories that would otherwise be lost. As the years pass, old editions of the paper become priceless resources for future generations, helping locals learn about our town’s evolution and honoring those who have shaped it.

Local history is often overlooked by mainstream media, which tends to focus on larger, national stories. Our rural newspaper steps in to offer a perspective and a narrative that you can’t find elsewhere. Without us, these invaluable community records would vanish, and the rich cultural heritage of our community could fade into obscurity.

2. We Cover What Others Don’t Big news outlets don’t send reporters to city council meetings, school board debates, or your neighbor’s small business opening. We do. We tell the stories of hardworking farmers, teachers, and volunteers who may not make headlines elsewhere. We shine a light on the stories that shape your daily life — and no one else is doing it.

3. We Build Community

At the heart of rural America is a deep sense of community, and small-town newspapers are deeply connected to the people we serve. From youth sports to local heroes, from obituaries to anniversaries, we tell the stories of your neighbors, your kids’ teams, and the people who make this place special. The voice of the community is reflected in our paper, and that voice is something worth preserving.

4. We Support Local Businesses

When you pick up our paper or visit our website, you’re also supporting local businesses that advertise with us — keeping your advertising dollars circulating right here at home.

5. We Hold Local Power to Account Without local journalism, who’s watching our local government? Our schools? Our law enforcement? We ask the hard questions because transparency matters in a healthy democracy. Without a local press to keep an eye on the government and businesses, accountability would be diminished, and transparency would suffer.

6. We Need You to Survive Unlike national media giants, we run lean — powered by passion, not profit. Our staff members are your neighbors, friends, and community members. Every subscription, donation, and ad buy helps keep local journalism alive. Without reader support, local newsrooms across the country are disappearing. Let’s not let that happen here.

For generations, The Colorado County Citizen has been proud to serve as your trusted source for local news, community updates, and the stories that make our town unique.

But today, local journalism faces a crossroads.

The landscape of news has changed dramatically in recent years. With advertising revenue shrinking and more people turning to national outlets and social media for information, it has become increasingly difficult for local newspapers like ours to sustain the kind of in-depth, community-focused reporting our town deserves. In the fast-paced, impersonal world of modern media, there’s something deeply valuable about holding a local paper in your hands – something irreplaceable. It’s the voice of the community, the history of the place, and the pulse of local life. Let’s keep it alive.

That’s why I’m writing to you—not just as a publisher, but as your neighbor.

If you value having a reliable, independent voice in our town… If you believe that local journalism holds power to hold leaders accountable and uplift everyday citizens… If you’ve ever clipped out a photo of your child’s sports team, followed our election coverage, or learned something new about our shared history… or searched newspaper archives to learn the history of our community or family history… Then I invite you to support The Colorado County Citizen.

Here’s how you can help:

• Subscribe – A digital or print subscription helps us plan for the future and continue delivering quality content. With over 7,000 homes and businesses in Colorado County and at an annual rate of only $55 per year, if we each do our small part and subscribe, we can secure our papers future.

• Donate to NIE – Contributions from readers go directly toward printing costs to keep newspapers in our local classrooms.

• Advertise – If you’re a local business, partnering with us helps both of us grow. Advertising starts at only $15 per week.

• Share – Recommend our stories, posts, or subscription to friends and neighbors.

Your support isn’t just financial— it’s a vote of confidence in the role of local news in a healthy community.

We’re not backed by a national chain or owned by a media conglomerate. We live here. We work here. And we care deeply about the stories we tell—because they’re your stories.

Thank you for reading, for trusting us, and for being part of our story. With your help, we can continue to be a voice for our town for many years to come.

Tressa Alley is the Area Publisher of The Sealy News and the Colorado County Citizen.