Celebrating National Newspaper Week Oct. 1-7

The nation celebrates National Newspaper Week, October 1-7 this week. The newspaper business has always been a part of my life, even when I was very young.

I was born into the newspaper business. My Dad was a third-generation newspaper publisher and he started a newspaper printing business. My Dad’s family started the newspaper in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., The Democrat-Union. It has been published for 139 years. Like all newspapers, it serves the community in many positive ways.

I have always told people that newspapers are a freedom. A freedom for you to buy and to read all about your national, state, and local news. A freedom to read opinions written by local readers and writers. And as a reader, it is information given to you so you can make your own choice and your own decision. As Dad used to say, “There’s always two sides to a story.”

My great-great-grandfather, Charles Travis Crawford and his wife, Margaret “Maggie,” were in the newspaper business. Charles and Maggie had a son, James, who continued in the newspaper business. James was married to Etta Stockard, and they had two sons, Charles and James (my `Pops’), and began the newspaper in Lawrenceburg, The Democrat Union. My Dad and his brother Nathan continued the tradition as my brothers and sisters did. My Dad went on to buy two other weekly newspapers, one in Hickman County, Tennessee and one in Alabama, the Colbert County Reporter. I worked at the Colbert County Reporter for 40 years before taking the job at The South Reporter.

I’ve met many people and covered many events since I started in the business.

A newspaper has a responsibility to the community. It helps engage the community by reporting local school events, sports, and society news. A newspaper keeps you involved in the community.

Based on surveys of 5,000 people, the study by Coda Ventures revealed that respondents ranked local newspapers and their websites as the most accurate sources of original news reporting. The results also listed why we, as Americans, seek out local news – to stay informed and feel connected to the community.

I believe the obituary page is one of the most-read pages in a newspaper. I have heard some say, “When I pick up to read the newspaper I read the obits first-hoping I don’t see my name,” as they laugh out loud. But some love to read sports and some like the society news.

I started working at The South Reporter in April 2022. Holly Springs and Marshall County is a great place to live. Everyone at the newspaper, Sue Watson, Barbara Taylor, Pam Burleson, Kenn Falkner, Janice Wagg, Mary Minor, Mary Clay Brooks, Jeremy Richmond, Bonnie Gurley, Lazandra Wells, and Faye Cook, who all work together as a team, to provide the best news coverage possible. We want to thank everyone who supports and reads The South Reporter.