Letter from Kristin Pullyblank and Christina Bourgeois

Congrats to Iron String

The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area congratulates Iron String Press, publishers of “The Freeman’s Journal,” “Hometown Oneonta” and AllOtsego.com, the recipients of a $100,000.00 grant from Press Forward.

Iron String Press is one of only nine news organizations in New York and 205 throughout the United States who received grants from Press Forward’s inaugural year of support to local media organizations. Through these grants, Press Forward hopes to invigorate and strengthen local news, in small communities like ours around the nation.

At its 2024 convention, the League of Women Voters of the United States adopted a position in support of local news, stating:

“The League of Women Voters of the United States believes it is the responsibility of the government to provide support for conditions under which credible local journalism can survive and thrive.

“The LWVUS defines local news as accurate, in-depth coverage of government entities, including but not limited to, city councils, county councils, county boards of commissioners, health departments, schools, and school boards.”

The position resulted from a study by the LWV of Washington state that tracked the decline of local newspapers statewide and nationally and found that democracy is directly related to credible sources of local news. The study showed that a third of the nation’s newspapers are expected to close by the end of 2024. More than 200 counties in the United States are now considered “news deserts,” with no source of reliable local news.

The League’s study also found that democracy suffers in communities with no credible source of local news: Fewer people vote or run for office, and political polarization and government corruption grow.

Our community is fortunate to have local papers and news websites that cover everything from our Halloween activities and new businesses to local elections and community controversies. The League counts on our local news outlets to help us help citizens understand how their government works and how we are connected.

Congratulations Iron String! Keep up the good work. As Press Forward notes, “Democracy flourishes when people have access to reliable information.” The League agrees!

Kristin Pullyblank and Christina Bourgeois
Co-Presidents,
LWV of the Cooperstown Area