River Reporter

If I were a newspaper, I would be the River Reporter. Not for me the staid, declamatory New York Times, the bipolarity of the Los Angeles Times, the flip too-​cool-​for-​the-​roomism of the New York Observer. I would be the River Reporter, a print version of the rolling hills and unspoiled ridgelines that make up the upper Delaware and soothe harried souls.
This paper so perfectly captures the spirit and sensibility of the residents of the regions that it makes you smell fresh air and hear birdsong just by reading it. Based in the charming, vibrant town of Narrowsburg, the RR manages to contain local politics, regional news, local sports, cultural events of all sorts, gardening tips, film reviews, editorials and human interest in a coherent, well-​laid-​out, interesting and creative manner, constantly engaging the reader and never forgetting for a moment who the reader is and what they value, as a resident or a part-​time resident.
The paper carefully calibrates its decidely leftist tone to remain courteous and respectful of all points of view. Its celebration of people and place all comes from its very much being a paper of where it is. The people who read it love the area, love living there, hate the problems that plague it, but choose to stay and fight the good fight. Reading the River Reporter, you learn whose house was destroyed in the flood in the fall, and where the fundraising event will be taking place for the child who needs a bone marrow transplant. You learn that PennDOT is trying to replace the Twin Lakes Road bridge, that the Nutshell Arts Café is hosting WJFF’s benefit concert of James Hunter, and that Bethel Woods Harvest Festival is taking place. Their listings are superlative. Major events and tiny tricky tray auctions are all mentioned.
They constantly poll readership, running «best of» competitions throughout the year for innumerable regional services, from best sit-​down restaurant to best contractor. Living in the country is dependent largely on making connections and the River Reporter manages to distill enormous geographical distances into nothing at all, creating a community and caring for it carefully. Spearheading many local efforts on social issue, political justice and environmental fronts, the RR gives back as much as it gets and then some.
For me, living in this area much of the year is enhanced beyond description by this amazing resource, which voices my thoughts, answers my questions and celebrates what I cherish just as I would, if I were the River Reporter.