Together, we can ensure that journalism in the metro-east not only survives, but thrives
I was about 12 years old when I decided I wanted to be a journalist.
It happened at the breakfast table, after I’d delivered the Belleville News-Democrat to 80-some neighbors bright and early one Sunday morning.
Like so many of you, I remember sharing the newspaper with other members of my family, pouring over the fine print of the sports scoreboard page, scouring the box scores for my favorite players and occasionally seeing even my own name.
It never occurred to me, though, that the professionals behind the bylines – “Answer Man” Roger Schlueter, Joe Ostermeier, Teri Maddox, to name a few– would someday be colleagues. But here I am, with nearly 27 years behind me in my career with my hometown newspaper.
It’s been a privilege, which is not to say that it’s been easy.
The winds of change have blown hard and cold on the newspaper industry as readers flocked to internet sources and advertisers followed. More than 2,500 U.S. newspapers have gone under and about 35,000 journalists have lost their jobs.
The BND, however, has made the shift to digital while still producing a print edition to be shared at the kitchen table. Moreover, we’ve continued doing the important watchdog work we’ve been doing for almost 167 years.
In the past year alone, our team of reporters has produced stories that have had great impact in Belleville and the greater metro-east region:
Through an ongoing series of articles, BND has exposed how out-of-town investors acquire homes via delinquent tax sales only to leave them vacant, dilapidated and a drain on local property values, public safety and taxpayer money.
Our coverage of how one businessman’s lavish lifestyle siphoned money away from the upkeep of Belleville Crossing Shopping Center was followed by an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
On a tip, a News-Democrat journalist acquired security video from the East St. Louis Police Department which showed an officer open a holding-cell door and spray a sleeping juvenile with what federal investigators now say was pepper spray while two other officers watched. A civil rights lawsuit and criminal charges have since been filed.
These are just a few examples of our work in 2024. We’ve also been in the front row at city council and school board meetings, the run at state football championships by Althoff and East St. Louis, and behind the scenes of new restaurant and business openings across the metro-east.
But to expand our work at the BND, we need your help.
Your generous donation will directly contribute to expanding our coverage, allowing us to delve deeper into the issues that affect the metro-east. With additional resources, we can hire more reporters, invest in investigative journalism, and enhance our digital presence to reach a broader audience. This expansion is not just about increasing the quantity of news but ensuring the quality and depth of our reporting.
Local journalism is the cornerstone of a thriving, well-informed and engaged community. It fosters transparency, encourages civic participation, and holds those in power accountable. By supporting our efforts, you are investing in the future of Belleville, St. Clair County and the entire metro-east region.
We understand that these are challenging times, and any contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant difference.
You can donate through bnd.com/donate. Or, if you prefer to send a check, please put Belleville in the memo line and mail it to 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816. Please include your email address.
Together, we can ensure that local journalism in the metro east not only survives but thrives.
And, as always, thank you for reading the BND.
This story was originally published November 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
