It’s a question we ask ourselves often: what is the power of local news? The Questa del Rio News has been providing coverage of stories that would otherwise have gone uncovered, undocumented, and untold.
People have shared their stories of resilience, perseverance, and grit. They’ve shared their stories of heartbreak and devastation. They have given us hope and connection to one another, to hear each other’s stories and to realize that we are more alike than different.
Questa Councilwoman Katrina Gonzales once told me that the Questa News was helping heal wounds in the community. It allows us to get to know better the people we’ve known our whole lives, what they’ve been through, what they’ve overcome without us even realizing it.
Have we fallen short in our coverage? Absolutely. There are times when I have stayed up at night kicking myself for forgetting to call someone back, forgetting to include a story I promised coverage of, or neglecting to get all the details the story required because we were up against a deadline.
This is a testament of how news is only powerful when it has the support and input of its local community. If you want to ensure the news has all the details, reach out and provide them. If you want to ensure something is covered, send an email with the details and request coverage. News exists for you and by you. You are the key and crucial part of the equation.
A journalist knows that their work is to document history while also carrying the responsibility of making history through their impact. I am proud to say that our publication was first on the scene in Red River for the biker shootout in May of 2023. We provided locals and tourists alike life-saving and crucial information when they needed it most. I also beam with pride when I think about the phenomenal story we told about Roger Blanco, giving his purple heart to Frank Rael because his father had lost his – which Roger earned in sacrifice and gave in love.
Then there are the stories that give you a lump in your throat, like when Benita and Lucas Lovato lost everything in a house fire after Christmas, or when well-known Questa local Elsie Rael contacts you, asking for your help to find an organ donor. Sadly, Elsie lost her battle to non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in October of this year, but I am grateful we could tell her story so her family will always be able to look back at it and remember how much their mother and grandmother loved them.
These stories, while all carrying a different impact, will remain a part of the history of Questa’s fabric forever.
Where do we go from here? That is up to our readers. In December, we will be hosting our annual December fundraiser. You will see online our please to donate to help us with our operational costs as we head into the 2025 year. While we receive grants for part of our funding, the other piece comes from you, our readers.
Please consider supporting local news through our upcoming fundraiser. Whether you can donate $5 or $100, your donations are appreciated and will go to our mission of providing public access and representation for our historically underserved communities in northern Taos County, preserving the culture, history, traditions, and stories of the people through strong, meaningful journalism.
