As a native of northwestern Colorado, I am a fan of
High Country News. It has evolved from a tiny
paper for people who care about the environment to a significant
regional publication that contains news and opinions not found in
nationally syndicated columns or major urban newspapers. I read it
because I am a reader by habit and because I am interested in the
economic, social, and political pressures that change brings to the
quality of life and the environment in the West.
Today’s consolidated and “market-directed” media will not
always cover specific subjects as you do, e.g. industrial
pollution, water systems, wildlife habitats, land speculation, and
so forth. It’s up to independent publishers like you to
investigate, gather input, bring to public attention and fairly
report. Policies and activities do have effects, and reporting the
good and the bad consequences doesn’t mean you are getting
“too political.”
The administration in Washington seems
bent on privatizing, meddling with, or destroying the systems and
agencies that assure at least some accountability about public
assets. This makes the kinds of reporting you do all the more
important. And since when does having a reporter follow the
processes in Washington mean you are wild-eyed environmentalists?
How sad it is that so many people insist on shooting the
messengers when they don’t agree with what they read!
Marian M. Leonard
Lakewood,
Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline HCN fills the void.
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