The Stories That Bring Us Together

I have yet to introduce myself to many people throughout Monroe County, so let me begin by saying hello. My name is Eric Roellig, and since April, I have had the privilege of serving as editor of the Monroe County Herald.

I welcome you all to our July saturation edition. Twice each year, the Monroe County Herald is mailed free to every household in the county. It's our opportunity to show you the kind of local journalism we produce every week—and, we hope, to earn your subscription.

While the demise of print media has been a hot topic for over a decade, I think print journalism is more important than ever. Small local newspapers continue to close every year. According to Poynter, 136 local newspapers closed in 2025. Each closing leaves a hole in their community that may once have had regular news coverage and individuals devoted to telling the community's story. Without  journalist, their ethical creed, and devotion to facts and telling a great story, the community is left without a voice.

When the newspapers are gone, we are left with keyboard warriors sharing posts and opinions on social media. Biased,  not factual, and often meant to cause harm and gain attention rather than add to the community conversation. Local journalism has the opportunity—and, I believe, the responsibility—to be different. Our job is to explain, to verify, and to tell the stories that matter here at home.

Modern cable and internet journalism has become sensationalism, intended to anger and prompt people to view and share with either delight or utter disdain and anger. As long as it generates pageviews, clicks, and social media interaction, it is presented to the world as news. I have seen some label modern news as a propaganda machine, and that is possibly a valid assessment. Local journalism is different; we'll verify. We'll listen. We'll tell the stories fairly.

I am passionate about newspapers and journalism. I want to tell the story of our community—the place where my wife and I live with our son. I hope my work here helps at least one person or group, but I would like to do so much more. 

I love finding passionate people; they do the best work, relentlessly and without thought of acknowledgment or praise. People like Heather Ellis leading the Adaptive Sports League at SHS, Eric Pedersen and the Meadowview Exploration Room, and Eryn Leahy and Tara Nichols and their work with the Monroe County Suicide Prevention Taskforce. I can't do this job without people like them, and like you—people who have stories that the Monroe County Herald should share with our community.

I ask all of you still reading this introduction to join me; together,  we can bring about positive change and find common ground to combat the divisiveness and anger that surround us each day.

Anthony Bourdain, someone I respected a great deal, once said, "Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life." His meaning was that the food itself was seldom the best part of the meal. The best meal is one shared with others in a special place, with memorable conversation and discussion. Meals create stories. Church suppers, county fair breakfasts, fish fries, family reunions, and neighborhood picnics become part of a community's shared memory. Years later, people may not remember exactly what they ate, but they remember who was there, what was said, and how they felt.

Let's have a discussion and share our memories.

If your organization is doing something meaningful, if your family has a story worth telling, or if you simply think there's something happening in Monroe County people should know about, I hope you'll reach out. A community newspaper only succeeds when it reflects the community it serves.

editor@monroecountyherald.com