Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-01
How the Local Newspaper
Fills the Home Front GAP

bright note has been sounded in the general lamenta-
tons that frequently fill the county air to the effect that
the county is bedroom" adjunct of Washington.
Briefly the complaint is that because many of the
countyS residents work in Washington they take narrow
and passing interest in the problems of their neghbors
the county and of the county a whole
1t appears that the depth of civic interest is either on
the increase or that it is stronger than previously believed
Our reason for saying this springs from recent survey
made by the Sentinel of the likes and dskes preferences
and avesons of present potential readers With most
the facts disclosed by the survey have this
connection except to readers that they will find
and more of the types of they wish they continue
to read this newspaper The salient fact here is that only
percent of those interviewed said that they have interest
county events
In other words = if the Sentinel sample is reasonably
correct SO percent of the people of the county DO take
interest in the community in which they live and pay
taxes.
The depth the keenness with which this interest is
felt another matter and not touched upon by the
But it is encouraging and somewhat surprising to many
people that basic interest is felt by such high per-
centage BODIES well for the future of the county which
WILL certain, develop soundly direct proportion to
the citizen participation in that development
1t is at this point supplying interested citizens with
the vital facts to knde that interest and supply with in
teignt fuel that good community newspaper comes into
the picture.
is idle boast to say that newspaper which concen
ates to the exclusion of all other news employs
alert staff and prints from 16 to 20 uszed pages
nifty communication.
No other type of publication rival it.
Consider the following points in support of this state
ment:
Montgomery County and its political subdivisions use
community newspapers exclusively inform taxpayers of
pending vital decisions Known legal ADVERTISING this
material is official notification of pending street improve
ments coming meetings. tax hearings Armed with the infor
nation on what when and where taxpayers enabled to
take in the formulation of decisions that will affect their
homes, their pocketbooks their lives.
Because they their space solely to report local
citizens will usually find fuller explanation of conflicting
points of view civic issues their local press The meet
ngs of the County Council school board and municipal
ellis are cases in point The metropolitan press these
gatherings in admirable but brief manner The local press
gives not only the decisions taken but who favored what
course of action and why - and in detail.
Community projects such Fairgrounds and swimming
pools are reported fully and stepbystep in good
nifty newspaper Generally speaking the metropolitan press
finds such items of interest too restricted number
readers to give much space them And yet if you happen
to live in the locality in question: the may directly bean
on the pleasure convenience of your daily life
And because is true that cannot live alone because
he is social being and thank heavens he is OF
the welfare of his neghbors is of keen interest just
one Illustration of the community interested in
how their sisters have solved the problem of decorating
recreation room They will find that information in their
county newspaper.
1t is also of than passing interest to know whose
house burning when the fire sirens screamed last mid
nght who has found oooot way to charcoal corn on the
cob who i'll and with what ament what parties being
given for public amusement and where and what local
chants having special sales what lines of goods
1t seems to us that the average Montgomery County
family finds that the community newspaper fills gap in the
that is left by all other media Life will be
pleasant profitable and meanngfu the family knows what
is happening at home well in the Capitol Algeria
Naturally would like to express the modest hope that
old and friends of the Sentinel will consider the
paper in this connection.