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Reflecting on Why Local Journalism Still Matters

Reflecting on Why Local Journalism Still Matters

Photo: Saga Communications


Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Two years ago, we set out to fill a void.

Not because we wanted to start another website. Not because we needed something else to sell. But because this community—our community—deserved something better. Something consistent. Something local. Something that showed up every single day with one purpose: to inform, connect, and serve the people of Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas.

On April 2, 2024, Jonesboro Right Now was born.

And like anything worthwhile, it didn’t just happen. It was built by people who believed local journalism still matters.

I think about those early days often. The conversations. The skepticism. The long hours. The question we kept coming back to: Will people actually turn to this? Not just once, but every day?

Two years later, we have our answer.

More than 5 million page views. More than 2 million users. But more importantly than any number—trust. Habit. Connection. When something happens in Jonesboro, people want to know what’s going on … right now. And they’ve told us, through their clicks and their loyalty, that they trust us to deliver it.

That doesn’t happen without people.

To those who helped launch Jonesboro Right Now—thank you. You took a chance on something new, something unproven, something that required belief before it earned it. And to the team that continues to show up every day—writing, editing, posting, producing—you are the heartbeat of this platform. This doesn’t work without your commitment to doing it the right way.

Because that’s the key.

In a time when misinformation spreads faster than facts, when headlines are often louder than truth, and when traditional newspaper readership continues to decline across the country, the need for strong, reliable, local journalism has never been greater.

We don’t take that lightly.

We believe local news should be accessible. It should be timely. It should reflect the community it serves— not from a distance, but from within. That means telling the stories that matter, even when they’re not the biggest. Covering the wins. Asking the tough questions. Showing up when it counts.

And we’re just getting started.

The future of Jonesboro Right Now isn’t just about growth in numbers — it’s about growth in impact. It’s about being a platform that not only informs but helps shape the conversation. A place where the community can come together, stay connected, and move forward — together.

Because this community deserves that.

As publisher of Jonesboro Right Now and president of Jonesboro Media Group, I couldn’t be prouder of what’s been built in just two years. But I’m even more excited about what’s ahead.

We filled a void.

Now, we have a responsibility to keep filling it—every single day.

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