COLUMN: Put on my cowboy boots; Hello Cochrane

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to change your whole life overnight, but that’s what I did last week when I was offered a job as a journalist here at the Cochrane Eagle.

I have been in Alberta for six years now. Originally a transplant from the east of everyone’s favorite center of the universe (Ontario), I’ve spent the last half-decade in Alberta’s freezing capital. I have been editor and reporter for several community newspapers in the capital region. My time there instilled in me a deep appreciation for this province and all the beauty and benefits it has to offer, but can you really call yourself an Albertan if you haven’t paid your dues in the provincial cowboy country? Of course not. So I put on my Smithbilt and headed south.

All kidding aside, I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of a strong and healthy community newspaper. In today’s climate of misinformation, mistrust and globalized media marketing, the role of community writing is more vital and specific than ever. Publications like Cochrane Eagle are the last vestiges of truly local information – content from and for the community, rather than localized for it – and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

It is also true that trust in the media has eroded more now than in recent years and I want to help change that too. In a hyper-partisan and polarized environment, the role of the community journalist in rehabilitating the relationship between the media and its audience is more important than ever. As a community journalist, I will strive to earn and, more importantly, maintain your trust.

Community newspapers are the voice of a small town. They heed authority overlooked by mainstream media, amplify the individuals and stories that make communities like Cochrane special, and serve as a collective memory in an era when our attention spans are more like a goldfish than a an elephant.

It’s nice to meet you, Cochrane. I hope I can meet your expectations and provide the quality of reporting you expect from your local newspaper. As I continue to master myself, I hope you will let me know of any concerns, ideas or questions – or just stop by for a coffee and a hello.

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