It has been nearly one year since I stepped foot in The Covington News office for the first time. In that year, I have learned so much about this community and have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Newton County’s community newspaper.

The community newspaper plays a vital role in what makes a town work. We, at The News, strive to hold the responsible accountable while also informing the community about the ins and outs of what is going on around town.

Being the community newspaper also comes with the weight of responsibility. There are a lot of eyeballs that read and analyze our work every day. We can’t mess it up.

So, why The Covington News? What makes us different than any other media outlet? Why should you pick us?

The Covington News has the slogan: “Telling the story of your life since 1865.” That’s what makes us different.

We are staffed with real people that you know. You will see us at the grocery store on Saturday morning and at city council Monday night. We are constantly working to make sure we are a part of the community through outreach opportunities and community events. We don’t just drop in for the big, flashy story; we’re here for the long haul.

We rely on local, recognizable sources. The quotes you see in articles are attributed to real people who also call this community home. If you don’t believe us, ask them yourself.

We correct our mistakes. While we do our best to provide the most accurate information at all times, we also understand that we sometimes get things wrong. There is a big difference between an error and knowingly publishing false information because of some agenda. We just don’t do that.

What is the future of newspapers? We don’t know. While I’d love to say they’ll be around forever, I can’t guarantee that. It is an honor to be allowed in your home each Sunday that we don’t take lightly. We will continue to bring you the news as long as you let us. That being said, news is changing and we will continue to change with it.

Over the next few weeks you may notice some differences in your community newspaper. I hope you’re as excited about them as we are. We will continue to bring you the story of your life, but we are just going to look a little different while doing it.

So, during National Newspaper Week, more than ever, we welcome your feedback and appreciate your support as we work to make The Covington News the best newspaper in this community.

Jackie Gutknecht is the news editor of The Covington News. Her email address is jgutknecht@covnews.com. Twitter: @CovNewsEditor