What is the “mission” of a news organizations?
Is it strictly profit and answering to corporate shareholders?
Is it social justice or political influence?
Or is it community service?
From day one, The Augusta PRESS has been very clear mission about our statement. We can boil it down to two points.
The job of a newspaper
- Is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.
- Is to tell the truth and raise hell.
Looking back on our first month in publication, which we celebrate today, I believe we have achieved both. We have shined a light onto local crime and political issues. We have clear that our local government should and will be held accountable. We have shown that we walk in the path forged by legendary newsman Adolph Ochs.
Ochs is the Chattanooga, Tenn., native who rescued the equally legendary New York Times from obscurity and certain failure at the cusp of the 20th century. On his first day as Times publisher in 1896, Ochs wrote that he would publish the news “impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect or interests involved.” He said he intended his newspaper to be a public forum for “intelligent discussion from all shades of opinion.”
Those are our intentions at The Augusta Press as well. We will always look out for the public good, even when with faced with adversity. We will never run away from a fight, whether it’s with overzealous law enforcement or politicians or businessmen who seek to hide their actions from the public.
We believe that thus far, we have told the truth, regardless of who it offends. We will continue that precedent into the future.
Due to popular demand, we added the Rick McKee comic strip. We have had tons of request for obituaries; real estate listings; engagement, wedding and birth announcements.We are pleased to report that these additions will start in the coming days not weeks. Our fees for these services will be very reasonable, unlike the bloated costs we have been hearing complaints about. The only reason we can add these services is the support we have received from subscribers like yourself.
We have taken the financial risk — for a new business — of adding two more people to our news team because we have been asked to do more, to produce more local news, to find more stories to tell. We feel confident taking this risk because of the outpouring of support we have received from our community
We want to express our gratitude to all our subscribers for their support for The Augusta Press. We encourage all of you to invite your family and friends to join the thousands that have followed, liked, and subscribed to The Augusta Press in support of true local journalism. The more supporters we have, the more new writers we can hire, and the deeper we can drill down into not just the truth but truths behind the truth. We will offer even more robust content.
Our community’s support for The Augusta Press in our first month has been truly humbling. In this short period, we have provided what we believe to be excellent coverage of politics, business, news, and the best lifestyle-features stories produced in the CSRA in years.
The Augusta Press is committed to serving our community. We are the future for news in the CSRA.
Joe Edge is the Publisher for The Augusta Press. Reach him at joe.edge@theaugustapress.com
