In recent days, I have written and spoken quite a bit about my vision for a good community newspaper, but the most important question is: What do you want the Winchester Sun to be?

Everyone knows that newspapers have to evolve and change, as does every business in today’s economy. But newspapers also continue to fill vital roles in the communities they serve. 

Ideally, newspapers showcase the community, celebrate its victories, hold its leaders accountable, help its businesses grow, as well as inform, educate, entertain and connect readers. 

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that readers want local information about Winchester and Clark County, but we want to know what type of news interests you the most? 

Do you want human interest stories? Is business news something you want to read? Do you want niche content about health, recreation or other topics? Do you want more public records and things like courts and crime? 

Do you want to see a more visual breakdown of reported statistics through the creation of  infographics and charts?

Is a strong community calendar important to you? Are the daily comics and puzzles something you look forward to reading? Do you rely on our TV book to know what to watch?

Do you enjoy our website, which is now mobile friendly, and our e-edition that you can subscribe to if you want a digital-only version?

Would you pay for access to exclusive digital content?

I truly want to hear your feedback and value input from each and every reader.

There is no question that newspapers have to adapt to the world we live in, one that is becoming more digital than ever before. 

However, it is important to remember that the Internet is simply a tool for delivering information. That content has to come from somewhere, and when it comes to accurate and balanced reporting, more often than not it is coming from local newspapers. 

One of my favorite quips is “saying you don’t need newspapers because you get your news from the Internet is like saying you don’t need farmers because you get your food at the grocery store.”

The evolution of the Internet has not changed the need for local communities to have an organization that gathers and disseminates information to the general public, it has merely created a new medium for that work — the work of local journalists — to be shared with people.

Ultimately we want this to be your newspaper, and that means it must have content relevant to your lives that makes you feel like you get value from the dollar you spent on it. 

The first step is making sure we know what our readers, and potential readers, want in The Winchester Sun. With your input, we will be better informed as we work to build the best product that we can offer.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. He can be reached at (859) 759-0095 or by email at mike.caldwell@winchestersun.com.