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Welcome to Duplin Journal! I am pleased that you are reading this very first issue. I hope you like it and I hope you come back for more. Let me say right off the bat, that the goal of those of us that have put this publication together is simple. We want to be the best, most complete, fiercely local news source in our community. That is what the good folks in Duplin County deserve and that is what we intend to be.
Duplin Journal is a local edition of North State Journal, North Carolina’s only statewide newspaper, dedicated to covering the great state we call home and that we love. In a sea of media messages that twist, turn, perplex and come at you from all sides, North State Journal’s aim is to “elevate the conversation,” to report news in a straightforward manner and to inform. That is what good newspapers (and all media) should be doing and that’s what we will do in Duplin too.
What all this means to you, the reader is that each week Duplin Journal will give you stories about all things Duplin – government, schools, churches, prep and youth-league sports. We’ll write about the people here and the things that drive our county – local businesses, and agriculture. None of this should come as a surprise. Community newspapers should be covering all these things. What may surprise you, however is that in addition to receiving thorough local coverage, you will also get complete state news – from Murphy to Manteo. News and features about state government and industry, college and professional sports all will be part of the package. A substantial, robust news source is what you will have. All this is not something newspaper readers are accustomed to seeing these days… but Duplin County has it now.
I have told you what Duplin Journal will be. Now, let me now say what it will not be. In our newspaper and its operation, you will not find a top-down corporate structure that sees only profit, de-emphasizes the local market, cuts resources and ultimately diminishes the product that readers pay increasingly more for. This characterizes too much of the chain-owned media landscape nowadays and Duplin Journal will not be part of it. Don’t get me wrong, we need to make money, certainly, but a quality local newspaper must be at the forefront. If providing this to our community is not the priority, frankly, we might as well find something else to do.
I am a native North Carolinian. I’ve never lived anywhere else and never wanted to. My entire newspaper career has been in North Carolina. I truly love this state. I have lived in Duplin County for 23 years. My wife has deep roots here and it’s the place we chose to raise our children. It’s our home. I am honored to be part of an effort to provide a superior news outlet that takes seriously the need to serve our local community and indeed our state. It’s a privilege for me and for the Duplin Journal team.
You may know that the North Carolina state motto is Esse Quam Videri – To be rather than to seem. These are profound words that perhaps we all should embrace in our personal and professional lives. Our North State Journal team takes the motto to heart – to BE the best, most reliable news source in local markets across the state. We now aspire to BE that in Duplin County, as we not only cover what goes on here but as we become part of the community. But just like any local business startup, we need your support. If you are interested and engaged in what goes on in our county, please read Duplin Journal, in print and/or digitally. If you are a business owner, please advertise with us. Our goal is to be easy to work with. Let us help you get the word out and grow, just as you help us. And let us hear from you… everyone. Call us or drop by our office in Wallace. Write a letter to the editor about whatever may be on your mind. We’ll be on social media, so interact with us there. Give us your feedback and tell us what you like and what we can do better.
You may have heard the voices out there decrying newspapers and other traditional media saying that nobody is reading, blah, blah, blah. While it is true that media has changed, as have many businesses in our society, it is also true that the need for quality local news coverage has never been higher. Community newspapers are vital. Without them places like Duplin County are left with quick posts, sound bites, gossip and worst of all, “news deserts,” where there is no real coverage of local happenings. Strong newspapers help build strong communities. I hope you’ll join us as we do just that right here at home. Once again, welcome to Duplin Journal… your newspaper.
Jim Sills is vice president of local newspapers for North State Media.
