Nov. 13, 2012 — Those of us who work at the Lassen County Times believe we’re your first and best source for local news, and we’re not ashamed to say so. After all, we live right here in Susanville and Lassen County with the majority of our readers. We shop at the same markets, eat lunch at the same restaurants, our children attend the same schools, play on the same sports teams and we’re influenced and concerned by the same events that affect our readers.

We also recognize we’re not only the largest news gathering organization in the county, but the only one to regularly attend and report on the meetings of government agencies such as the Lassen County Board of Supervisors and the Susanville City Council. We take that responsibility seriously. If we didn’t gather that news for our readers, who would? And who would disagree that the rumor, speculation, innuendo, hearsay and gossip we so often encounter usually fail as sources of accurate, dependable news?

For those who don’t know, we’ve been a family owned business from our first edition through today. Anyone who works here at the Times will tell you of our publisher’s dedication to both his employees and our community. While the newspaper is a business like any other business, the Lassen County Times is not a faceless “it” controlled by some nameless corporate bean counters sitting around a big table in some boardroom in some faraway city whose only purpose is increasing the bottom line.

The downturn in the economy has wrought many changes, and like every other businesses the newspaper has to respond to the challenges of the day. For example, our newsroom is smaller and leaner today than it’s been in the past, but our commitment to serving our community — our readers and our advertisers — remains unchanged. We believe you —our customers — are the most important people in our business.

One newspaper editor pointed out people always look to their local newspaper whenever they want someone “to carry their water, grind their axes and pull their chestnuts out of the fire.” We’re happy to do that when it’s appropriate, but we’re also asking you to help us get more community news in your newspaper.

Our focus is Susanville and Lassen County. As a rule, our writers don’t write about national and state events unless they affect us in some way. Our focus is on you.

So if you’re involved with a group or organization in our community, we’re here to help you share your story and get the word out. Some folks are always frustrated when we tell them we just can’t attend every event in town, but that’s the reality. However, we can work together with you and your organization so everyone knows exactly what you’re up to.

If you can take a photograph or two (images always attract readers to a story) and provide us with some basic information, we can make sure our readers find out about your group and your event. That’s what we do. We know big organizations have professional public relations folks to prepare their press releases, but you don’t need them to be included in the Lassen County Times.

Just give us a call at 257-5321, or visit us at 100 Grand Avenue in Susanville, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure you’re the talk of the town.