Your Newspaper Needs You, Too

It feels like a year since we were in production for our April issue; but no, it’s only been a month.

As we were readying last month’s issue to go to press, COVID-19 reached Dallas. We had been watching, aware that some of the stories we had scheduled to run could need to hold for newer, more urgent news.

As colleague Rachel Snyder and I began keeping online readers abreast of new cases and government declarations, another issue arose. My son, like so many other students, would not be returning to school after spring break.

Like you, I was faced with trying to work from home and teach a third-grader math. I’ve been regaling readers with how that is going on our website.

I’d like to say thank you for supporting us. If you’re an advertiser, thanks for sticking with us, because you’re making sure your neighbors get up-to-date (and often up-to-the minute) information that they need to know.

And if you’re a reader, thanks for trusting us.

The sheer amount of news coming in keeps us busy, as does working together to figure out where to put it all and when.

Every day around 5 or so, when I take a breather and put the laptop down for a bit, it settles in that these hundreds of cases are someone’s dad, sister, child. The dead were loved people who will be missed dearly.

That’s when I need a minute to myself. I’m blessed to be staying at home with people who understand that.

Know there aren’t many journalists unaware that those numbers we’re reporting are people. It’s why we are practically begging you to stay inside, wash your hands, and listen to authorities.

It’s why we try to find stories about people helping make hospital equipment, or who find a way to celebrate milestones like weddings. We know you need the bright spots. Our souls need them, too.

It’s why we’ve made online space for restaurants and businesses to share the ways they’ve changed business models overnight. We want them to survive – those are our lunch spots, or date night favorites, and our birthday present saviors.

It’s also why it’s so important to support your local journalists by supporting their publications. If you can buy an ad, buy an ad. Share stories on your social media accounts. We are your neighbors, your cheerleaders, and your storytellers – and we need you, too.


For nearly 40 years, People Newspapers has worked tirelessly to tell the stories—good, bad, and sublime—of our neighbors in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. To support our efforts, please contact [email protected] for advertising opportunities. Please also consider sharing this story with your friends and social media followers.

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Bethany Erickson

Bethany Erickson, former Digital Editor at People Newspapers, cut her teeth on community journalism, starting in Arkansas. She's taken home a few awards for her writing, including first place for her tornado coverage from the National Newspapers Association's 2020 Better Newspaper Contest, a Gold award for Best Series at the 2018 National Association of Real Estate Editors journalism awards, a 2018 Hugh Aynesworth Award for Editorial Opinion from the Dallas Press Club, and a 2019 award from NAREE for a piece linking Medicaid expansion with housing insecurity. She is a member of the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the News Leaders Association, the News Product Alliance, and the Online News Association. She doesn't like lima beans, black licorice or the word synergy.

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