And for once, it wasn’t technology. It’s the antithesis to that, a virus the human race has yet to develop immunity to or a vaccine for. The concept seems unfathomable in a world we’ve attempted to build security and predictability into.
But it’s happening, and everyone is moving to adapt to this new life that seems to change on the hour. With new updates, data, statistics, and executive orders to stay up to date on, it’s hard to wrap your head around. Because humans are limited. We are limited in our capacity to consume information, and even more limited in understanding and retaining that information.
That’s where we come in. That’s what we’re here for. With a team to parse through that daily grind of press releases, press conferences, and social media updates, and journalists who have relationships with the community—they know who the relevant experts, elected officials, and community members are and where to find them—we can figure out what’s relevant, what you need to grasp both the big picture and the details. And we also know how to reach out to area residents who can humanize the important things and make them relevant to you and your life.
It’s what we’ve always done. Recording history for the future, but also for the present. We are constantly seeking out the pieces that are missing from the puzzle of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, to give you, our readers, the information you need to make decisions about your day-to-day life. That is our job.
We are not a list. We are not a regurgitated press release. We are not the latest, greatest breaking news. We are the context. And we would like to keep it that way.
Like so many other businesses, New Times Media Group is struggling right now. We are grappling with how to continue serving the community as we always have with a severely depleted budget. For decades, alternative weeklies like us have survived on advertising dollars from the community. When the arts, entertainment, and service industries takes a hit, we take a hit. And we are in the midst of a hit like no other.
So we are asking for your help. With your support, we can continue to do what we do best—arm you with information about your local community, schools, and government. If you donate to us, our staff can continue to do what they do best. Journalism needs you just as much as you need journalism. Together we can get through this—I think.
—Camillia Lanham
Editor