By Susan Canfora
This week, the Salisbury Independent begins its fourth
year. I remember texting Greg Bassett, who I have known since 1987 when we
first worked together and who had the ambitious idea of starting a new
publication, as I walked my dog in spring 2014.
“If you need a writer, let me know,” I typed on
my phone. He did. A few days later we met and discussed details. It
could be that only a couple of inkstained news reporters like us would pursue
the idea in a recovering economy and with the threat of print news becoming
extinct.
But everything fell into place with Independent
Newsmedia Inc. and we published the first issue in May that year.
To our delight, the public has embraced the Salisbury
Independent. It has been honored and awarded by Maryland Comptroller Peter
Franchot and the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.
Readers are loyal. They express interest and suggest
ideas for articles.
In our in-house ads, we refer to ourselves as
“watchdogs with manners,” and that’s how we approach every story, never
forgetting the community spirit that is rooted in generations of Salisburians
and permeates the city during its renaissance.
Of course, every journalist also has to report bad
news. We don’t shy away from it, but remain fair, knowing fairness is a
hallmark of our profession.
“It’s always possible for a professional journalist
who understands what he or she’s up to, to be fair, and that’s the key word,”
journalist Jim Lehrer once said.
“Fairness to individuals, fairness to ideas, and to
issues and whatever — that is critical, and that is also part and parcel of
what the job is,” he said.
During the past three years, we have built
relationships with city and county officials, attended meetings, photographed
children, covered events, gone into the schools, pored over budgets and
planning documents, followed continuing stories and documented them as they
have unfolded.
Some days are long. Most are stressful. But one of the
greatest blessings in my life is that I love my career, really enjoy every
headline, deadline, byline, cutline and dateline.
As our fourth begins, Publisher Darel LaPrade,
Advertising expert Cathy Koyanagi, Circulation Manager Karen Harrity, Greg and
I continue to be invested in bringing the community the finest publication
possible.
We thank you for your support.
Here’s to a fresh year, and many more.
Susan Canfora is the reporter for Salisbury
Independent. Contact her at scanfora@newszap.com.
