While preparing Sunday’s newsletter, we really marveled at the variety and importance of the stories that we delivered to our readers this week, and that no other news outlets had.
While we’re truly proud of what East Cobb News provides to the community every day and with the newsletter, we were especially proud in the past week.
The reason for that is very simple—our readers make our coverage better, with their story tips and ideas, comments on how to do the news differently/better, what they add to something we’ve published for context and perspective, and to tell us when we made a mistake, either in accuracy or news judgment.
When looking through the stories in this most recent newsletter, all of them had some significant reader involvement, if the story wasn’t their idea in the first place:
- While other outlets covered the story of a 12-year-old boy seriously injured by a van on Jamerson Road, East Cobb News provided further details right away. A reader who organized a GoFundMe for the child’s medical expenses texted us with the information shortly after we published the initial story on Monday, offering some more details on his condition and about the accident. Later, another reader left a comment about an online petition she has started to improve pedestrian safety in that area, and we added that to the story.
- When we posted a story about a fatal shooting Monday near KSU, another reader asked us about a shooting that took place at an East Cobb home over the weekend. A TV outlet carried a brief report of the incident, but we were able to provide some more details about the arrest of an older man charged with shooting his son by getting more information from police and an arrest warrant.
- After another anti-Trump protest was slated for East Cobb last week—again, this was news sent to us exclusively by a reader—others wanted to know what the county code allows for such public gatherings. After we inquired with the county and heard back, we posted this response. “You Ask, We Answer” has a lot of potential as an occasional behind-the-scenes feature on how things work, with our government, schools, public safety and traffic agencies, etc. We get a lot of questions along these lines, and if you ask us to find out something, we’ll do our best to get you an answer.
- Another story, about new ownership at one of East Cobb’s oldest package stores, came a from a reader who couldn’t use his loyalty card for the old place, even though the new signs had not gone up. When we saw the new name, we took some photos, contacted the owner and published a story.
These are all examples of what we call reader-driven news, because we strive every day to bring you stories that are relevant and useful to people in this community. It’s the great advantage of independent local journalism, and this past week was a clear demonstration of that principle.
Readers contact us because they know we’re there for them, and some tell us we’re the first outlet they think of when they have something to share with the community.
That’s the essential difference with East Cobb News in a competitive news market. We’re here, with feet on the ground in this community, every day, with the top commitment being responsive to you.
We don’t answer to corporate overlords or follow predictable templates for how to do the news. We’re not held down by production schedules or space or time limits.
At East Cobb News, we respond directly to what readers tell us is important to them, and we do so much of it in real-time. We’re part of this community and can relate to what’s vital, too, because it also affects us.
We really appreciate how East Cobb News readers value what they get at this website every day, because you’re the reason we do what we do, and the way we do it.
Doing all this news, however, does incur some costs. While we are thrifty, we also have been asking readers who haven’t yet financially contributed to consider doing so, on a monthly recurring basis. We’re suggesting $6 a month, which is about a couple of cups of drive-through coffee.
When you support East Cobb News, you help ensure that stories like the ones above don’t slip through the cracks. Every story we tell matters —whether it’s about local events, school board and county commission decisions, interesting people, or how people are volunteering and serving others.
What makes East Cobb News so distinctive? Simply put, there’s no place else to find news and information that highlights our community and keeps it strong.
Your gift of $6, $12, $25 a month, or an amount of your choice, helps us to tell countless stories and keeps you informed about what’s happening in East Cobb.
Our Press Patron online payment platform is safe and secure, and you can manage your account from there how you like. Please visit eastcobbnews.presspatron.com to contribute today or click any of the green boxes you see in this post.
Next week, East Cobb News will mark its 8th anniversary, and we’re excited about what the future will bring as we continue to give you the local news you love.
In the meantime, we’re wishing all of you a happy Independence Day holiday this week, and thanks for your support!
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