I've always subscribed to the theory that a local newspaper reflects the community it serves.
There will be good news and bad news -- that's just the way it is.
Readers deserve fair, accurate and objective reporting that endeavors to keep them informed of what's happening in the community. Here, there are plenty of positives to go along with the negative items, which seem to be what folks remember most.
By my count, the annual Courier News Top 10 news stories from the years 2002-2012 featured 32 positive pieces, 52 negative articles and 26 that could be viewed either way, depending on one's perspective.
For example, those 26 included stories involving political races, governmental decisions, sales tax elections or some other issue with two sides that could argue the outcome was positive or negative.
To me, the positive and negative stories were pretty obvious, i.e. a former president visiting, new businesses coming to town; or the flip side, murders and scandals.
Actually, there are probably more positive stories than negative ones if one considers articles on the Lifestyles page, triumphs found in the sports section or items involving academic accomplishments or some other achievement.
Believe it or not, I think I can speak for the rest of the news staff in saying we enjoy writing about the good stuff more than the bad.
But we wouldn't be doing our job if we simply ignored news that some would rather not be on the front page. It is our responsibility to enlighten citizens on how our tax dollars are being spent and provide accurate information so they can form their own opinions on controversial subjects.
I, for one, hope the newspaper will always be the watchdog, along a medium that exposes the good things happening here. While there are bumpy streets, financial problems and crime, like countless other communities in this great country, there are also heart-warming stories of benevolent acts as well as industrial growth and reasons to pound our chest.
Blytheville has been dubbed the barbecue capital of Arkansas; it has second-to-none sports facilities and youth athletic programs. Good luck finding a better place to get a donut or a more acclaimed independent bookstore that has brought in as many signifiant public figures and authors.
This is the place whose lumber rebuilt a metropolitan city after the Great Chicago Fire and whose steel is in infrastructure all across America -- maybe the globe, for that matter.
Here, every high school student in the county has an opportunity to go to college, thanks to the Great River Promise. So long as they stay out of trouble, work hard and earn their high school diploma, there will be money waiting to cover the full tuition and mandatory fees to Arkansas Northeastern College. Two years of their college education will be paid for simply by attending four years at a Mississippi County public high school; graduating with a standard high school diploma; being accepted as a student at ANC; achieving 95 percent attendance and punctuality record over the four years of high school; and having no drug or DWI offenses. The Great River Promise is one of a number of great programs here.
There are giving, compassionate people and businesses -- folks who are willing to roll up their sleeves and lend a helping hand.
It's my hope that the newspaper captures the spirit of the community and tells its complete story.
As the paper of record, we're recording local history -- the good and the bad. It's up to us all to determine how we are portrayed today and to generations to come.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com