tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13520324.post3009783403900826548..comments2024-03-21T13:15:26.838-04:00Comments on The Rural Blog: Editor & Publisher serves up comprehensive story on how rural and other community papers thriveMelissa Patrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558431327921705882noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13520324.post-77316776868681708402008-03-29T10:11:00.000-04:002008-03-29T10:11:00.000-04:00I just wanted to comment on Brad Martin, the Hickm...I just wanted to comment on Brad Martin, the Hickman County Times, and rural newspapers in general. First, Hickman County is growing -- it's slow and behind each increment of growth is a lot of hard work. And part of that hard work is done by Mr. Martin. As the economic developer for the county, I see this first hand. If I might interject, I occasionally am not pleased with Mr. Martin's articles, but that does not mean he is not doing his job well.<BR/><BR/>The rural newspaper is such an important asset. The internet (blogs, email, and such) can keep us informed at a certain level. But on local issues, many people in the rural areas are not tech savvy and much of the rural area does not have access to broadband to become tech savvy.<BR/><BR/>Rural newspapers should -- and Mr. Martin's Hickman County Times does -- bring professional journalism to rural America... reporting the good and the bad, informing the citizenry, or prodding the community to action. <BR/><BR/>Too often, the larger media has equated adversarial with professional. Rural newspapers can remain an integral part of the community by entertaining, informing, investigating, provoking, etc. Doing this responsive to the needs of the community provides a tremendous value, is noble work, and I applaud you and Mr. Martin for doing your job.<BR/><BR/>For more information on Hickman County, Tennessee, go to www.hickmaco.com/vision21 or http://hcecda.blogspot.com<BR/><BR/>Daryl Phillips<BR/>Executive Director<BR/>Hickman Co. Economic & Community Development Assn.Daryl Phillips, CEcDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02886929032949635919noreply@blogger.com