I took on the Editor role in the beginning of July, so while I haven’t been here for a full year yet, the end of the year brings up a time to look back and reflect. 

Having previously worked as a Staff Reporter at the Sullivan County Democrat from 2018-2021, I am familiar with the paper and what we do. But actually, nothing could really prepare me for the editor position (similar to nothing can really prepare you for becoming a parent–you don’t know what it will be like until you experience it).

So here are some thoughts and reflections. One, just like when you leave the hospital with your newborn in your arms and the newness is overwhelming, you realize, “I’m in charge of making sure this thing survives.” That’s a lot of responsibility and, let’s face it, stress. 

Second, it’s been great to be back out there in the community and see all the familiar faces that I became acquainted with over the years as a reporter, and to meet some new ones. From local and county government, to family-owned businesses, to arts organizations and non-profits, the community is made up of a diverse group of people who keep things running in Sullivan County and our bordering areas. 

Thirdly, the work that goes into making a newspaper seems to be under-appreciated. Perhaps not for lack of trying, but just that people don’t know how much work it takes. They may glance at an article shared on social media, not knowing where it’s coming from – who wrote it, how it came to be. 

In this day and age, it’s important to be aware of where information is coming from. I’ve noticed more and more the Facebook algorithm is pushing divisive posts and AI-generated content. I recently saw a video of a car crash in the snow with an accompanying “article” – except it was completely made up. And even though it disclosed that it was AI, people were still in the comments thinking it was real. 

Media literacy will become an ever-evolving skill, and one that everyone should take into account. In a world where AI is becoming more popular, it’s crucial to know who you can trust, and where you can turn for factual information (which is redundant, as information in itself contains facts). 

Those are my thoughts as we end this year and enter into 2026. It’s crazy to think of how much change there has been in just a few short years, from the Covid pandemic to presidential elections to conflicts around the world. 

Sometimes people will ask me how they can be more informed on local news, and the answer is simple: read the newspaper. Look not just at the articles but what is surrounding them – town meeting calendars, upcoming events, ads for new businesses, legal notices and classifieds. Once you pick up the paper and flip through the pages, it would be difficult to be unaware of what’s going on. 

And to our loyal readers: thank you for being here another year!