Growing up in a small town, you really learn the value of community. I grew up in a town of about 1,800 people. Combined population with the town a few miles down the road, and we were about the same size as Fallon. I bring this up because I think it’s important for you, our readers, to know that while I do not have a rich history in Fallon, I do know what small town living is like.
Why is that important? Well, anyone who lives in a small town knows that each town is unique. Not only are they vastly different from cities, but each of them also has their own personality.
Since 1903, the Lahontan Valley News has covered the personality of Fallon. From government to sports to everything in between, we have worked to bring to light the important issues of the Fallon community and the surrounding areas. In that time, we have seen many changes. Some change for the better, some a little tougher — but change has always been a constant.
If we fast-forward to the present, change has surrounded and affected the world of media. While our goal of covering the community on important topics will always remain, how we do it and how people access this content will be what changes.
Whether you like to read us in print, online, or through social channels, we have to be nimble in a way that delivers local content to people in their homes, on the go, and how they consume it in their busy, every day lives. Because it’s the content that helps weave the threads of small communities and keeps them up to date on the things that people need to know. And knowing that we will approach this based around facts and information, rather than opinion or bias should matter — especially in today’s society.
In all honesty, we can always be better in what and how we cover these topics. My hope, with the help of you, is that we can work together on what is important to the community. Not only is it the stories, but it’s also about the people that make up the community — you are just as important.
On the business side, we need to be better partners for our local businesses. We need to have more in-depth conversations to understand how we can help. While I’m certain many simply associate us with placing an ad in the newspaper, we can do so much more. If you have not talked to anyone over at the LVN in awhile, I suggest reaching out. I’d love to learn how we could help — because helping is just another thing that makes small communities one of the best-kept secrets in America.
Publisher Rob Galloway can be reached at rgalloway@lahontanvalleynews.com.