We started the Mountain Ear (both times) because we wanted better coverage of local news. There are so many board meetings, and all of them are important. The Tobacco Valley News faces the same problem we do- not enough people and too many meetings, and their focus is on a larger area. So we started the Mountain Ear.
It’s volunteer operated- no paid writers (best I can do is to let you know that some of our authors sell plant starts, eggs, and firewood), and no print option because I can’t figure out how to make a printed newspaper based out of Trego break even.
We write about a lot more than just Trego, because if we stuck to Trego, we wouldn’t write much. Our favorite news week is still the time the guy took the coat off his back for an injured pig.
If you think we aren’t covering something we should be, well, you’re probably right. We’re open to to hearing that, but fair warning, the editor (me) is likely to thank you for your interest in joining the team.
It’s easy enough. Tell the truth. Cite your sources. Try to be readable. And if you have any opportunity to say something good about your neighbors, take it. We like writing feel good stories about pigs in coats.
Leave a Reply