To the editor,
I am writing in my personal capacity to express my distress and concern over the loss of Will Dowd and a full-time reporting position from the Marblehead Current.
Dowd is one of the first names I learned coming into Marblehead. Part of the research before my job interview was to review Marblehead’s newspapers to get an idea on the various happenings in town. Article after article, newspaper to newspaper, Will Dowd has been a prolific chronicler for the town for over 10 years.
In my experience with Will, he’s never hesitated to put the tough questions to the town administrator, to search our town archives for untold stories of the past, or to sit down with our finance director and parse financial information into something everyone can understand. Regardless of the side of an issue you stand on, Will would give you a fair shake and strive to understand the full context of the story. He is a journalist that truly cares about fostering an informed community. I want to thank Will for his service to the Current and Marblehead as a whole, and I hope he finds a way to keep his talent focused on Marblehead.
Additionally, I would like to express my concern for the Marblehead Current and its long-term viability. I already notice the difference in the loss of a full-time reporter, and I hope the Current’s budgetary constraints are merely a short-term issue.
Having a nonprofit news source in a time of regional corporate media conglomerates is unique, Marblehead should not forget the value of this local reporting, which is unfortunately rare today. Only a few years ago, Marblehead was left in a local news vacuum when the Marblehead Reporter shifted to regional reporting. Thankfully Marblehead has two established operations now, but that could always change.
I rely on the Marblehead Current for information on the happenings of the countless committees and events going on in Marblehead, for feedback and opinions from the Public, and even the mundane of notices and bids.
I value the local reporting the Current provides, that’s why I am a recurring monthly donor. I encourage anyone with the financial ability to chip in and help keep Marblehead’s valuable local journalism alive.
Logan Casey,
Marblehead’s sustainability coordinator
Dartmouth Street, Somerville
