Three years ago, on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the Marblehead Current launched its first paper edition and it arrived at your doorsteps or in your mailboxes. We were both excited and nervous about this new venture, wanting this to be the beginning of a sustainable enterprise yet wondering if it might not succeed. How would our community newspaper be received? Would we be seen as a welcome and reliable provider of local news and matters of interest to our readers?
Our founders had both a dream and a vision: to establish this paper as the most dependable source of information about Marblehead affairs and to exhibit excellence in journalism, filling a void that had existed in town for a number of years. It seems such a long time since we embarked on this journey, yet here we are, more than 150 print editions later, having published over 5,500 stories ranging from coverage of local government, our schools, sports, local history, the arts, other topics of public interest and, yes, even excerpts from the police log.
We are your sole source to read The Headlight, the work of our high school students. And that’s not all: we have our opinion pages where we provide editorial comments on issues our editorial board deems timely, we have guest authors, we publish letters to the editor, and we mentor local interns who have written numerous articles on a variety of topics as they begin their own journeys toward possible careers in journalism.
We are a nonprofit organization, answerable to no one but you, our readers. We are not beholden to corporate control over content or opinions. We are governed by a group of dedicated volunteers who bring their love of journalism to all aspects of keeping this paper coming week after week and now, year after year.
How are we able to succeed? It is because of you, our readers and our local businesses. Every week
you see the advertisements paid for by far too many companies to list in this editorial. And every week we receive donations, large and small, from residents who believe in us and who want to ensure that we continue to exist. Right now, as you have read, we are in the midst of our annual News Match fundraising campaign, one of many different fundraisers required throughout the year to keep the presses rolling. It is hard work, but the fruits of our efforts are oh so worthwhile.
As you all gather this week with your loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, please know this: we at the Marblehead Current are so grateful for your continued support and generosity for without you, we would not be found on your doorstep or in your mailbox each week. We leave you with this heartfelt message from everyone at the Current: May you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!
The Current Editorial Board
The members of the Current’seditorial board are Bob Peck, chairman of the Current; Virginia Buckingham, president of the Current's board of directors; board member Brian Birke, Current editorial staff member Kris Olson, and Joseph P. Kahn, a retired Boston Globe journalist.
