Most, if not all, of you are aware of the challenges the newspaper industry has faced, particularly over the last 15 years.

The headwinds we face are relentless, and as a business we must adapt for our survival so we can continue to serve our readers and advertisers. Without local journalism, communities — particularly community governments — fall into disarray, get lazy and inevitably find themselves traipsing down unsavory paths of deceit and corruption.

Rick Thomason is the Triad regional publisher for Paxton Media Group and can be reached by email at rick.thomason@hpenews.com