In December, a reader asked why the Herald did not explicitly mark Pearl Harbor Day on Dec. 7 (Herald, Dec. 21, 2025). It’s a fair question – and one that opens the door to a broader conversation about how local journalism works and why those decisions matter.
The short answer: We did acknowledge the day, though perhaps not in the expected way. A feature on Mountain Middle School eighth-grader Emmett Kane – who wrote a 160-page book on World War II – ran intentionally on Dec. 7, connecting history to a local story and a new generation (Herald, Dec. 7, 2025).
That choice reflects the reality of newsroom decision-making.
Every day brings a flood of possibilities. Some news comes to us suddenly – a fatal crash, a wildfire, an emergency response that affects public safety, or a tip from a reader. Other stories are more methodical: combing through police blotters, spotting patterns like a string of break-ins, checking meeting agendas, and covering local governments. At the same time, reporters pursue enterprise stories – the kind that require time, multiple sources, and sustained attention.
As Managing Editor Shane Benjamin describes it, the newsroom operates with “two burners” – one reacting in real time to breaking news, the other steadily developing deeper stories that require research, context, and verification.
We also recognize our limitations. With a small staff, we cannot cover every holiday, ribbon-cutting, or anniversary. What resonates with one reader may not with another. Those are real trade-offs, guided by local relevance, reader impact, and available resources.
Our priority is hyperlocal. Readers can get national and international news almost anywhere. What they cannot get elsewhere is consistent, on-the-ground coverage of Southwest Colorado. As Benjamin puts it, “If we don’t cover it, there’s a good chance no one will.”
We also serve as the region’s paper of record – documenting public notices, elections, government actions, and community milestones to create a reliable record over time.
On Thursday, April 9, newsrooms across the country will mark the inaugural Local News Day – a national effort to reconnect communities with trusted local journalism. It comes as the industry faces challenges but also experiments with new models. New Mexico, for example, has created a state-supported Local News Fund, while nonprofit and collaborative efforts work to fill gaps left by shrinking staffs.
At the same time, even legacy institutions are contracting. The Washington Post has reduced its newsroom by roughly a third, including eliminating its Middle East bureau – leaving Americans less informed at a critical time.
Closer to home, the stakes are clear. A “news desert” is a community with little or no credible local news – where government meetings go uncovered, decisions happen without scrutiny, and residents rely on rumor, social media or fragmented information. Over time, civic engagement declines, and accountability erodes.
Strong local news helps prevent that.
It also depends on community participation.
If you see news happening, let us know. Email newstips@durangoherald.com or call 970-375-4567. Reporters’ contact information is listed at the bottom of their stories.
Community participation is just as important on the opinion pages.
We publish columns from elected officials and contributors from across the region and beyond, with a focus on what informs, challenges and resonates with readers.
We also write staff editorials – fact-based opinions that aim to inform, provide perspective and sometimes persuade, while educating, explaining, questioning, celebrating, provoking, analyzing and bearing witness.
Letters to the editor are central to civic dialogue. They reflect the community back to itself – its concerns, disagreements and values – helping keep the conversation going. We welcome letters in all forms – and while email submissions are preferred for efficiency, handwritten letters remain a meaningful and much-appreciated part of that exchange.
Have something to say? Submit a letter or column idea to letters@durangoherald.com or call 970-375-4522. And for National Poetry Month, send us your poems, too.
Local journalism is a shared civic effort – and it depends on you. Subscribe, engage and support the local businesses you see advertising in the Herald.
In the end, what we cover – and how – is shaped by the community we serve.
