In an era where non-stop cable coverage and social media reign supreme, it’s easy to understand why so many people are worried about the future of local news. As companies decide to cut the jobs of journalists covering metropolitan areas of California or Washington D.C., communities lose the people in their neighborhoods willing to listen and tell their stories.
However, there can be beacons of hope in this dark period of unavoidable hopelessness. One of these beacons is a newspaper known as the North Star Reporter.
I joined the North Star Reporter in 2022 as a reporter still new to the industry. I knew little about North Attleborough besides that it used to be a hub for button and jewelry factories during the Industrial Revolution. It looked like any ordinary New England town with ordinary people who had ordinary stories to share. I can tell you, dear reader, that North Attleborough, Massachusetts’s people, news, and stories are more than just ordinary.
The stories of North Attleborough are told by people like Kevin McCarthy, who spent months raising funds and volunteering to create a new dog park. They are told by Kristine Bonneau, who raised awareness about flooding to state and federal leaders after her home suffered catastrophic flooding. They are told by Jose Barros, who immigrated from Cape Verde to the United States in early 2023 and found work at Bell’s Powder Coating Inc. These people and more share their stories throughout North Attleborough, not only because they are newsworthy but because they care about how their stories affect the town and beyond.
The stories of North Attleborough are of a town going through changes both politically and economically, whether it be the town government taking a pro-housing stance, a new barbershop opening on S. Washington Street, or even the building of a new athletic complex, there is always something happening in the Big Red Town.
Some stories invoke rage, such as removing a book featuring poems written by women of color. There are stories of unexpected tragedies like the resignation of JoAnn Cathcart. Stories of celebration during a football game, stories of joy during the town’s inaugural Pride event, stories born from the thoughts of Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux, Gov. Maura Healey and even President Joe Biden himself. If there is a season to everything, then it is undeniable that there is a story to every town.
As for my story in North Attleborough, it is coming to an end. After one and a half years, I am moving on from the North Star Reporter and am saying goodbye to this town. Yet, despite this goodbye, the North Star Reporter will continue to shine as a beacon covering local news. This town has taught me that in the darkness, people want to bring light to local events. They want to bring light to stories and issues they care deeply about. The people and stories of North Attleborough are not just headlines to skim over on your phone; they are the heart, soul and mind of a living, breathing town.
As such, I leave you with this request: never stop telling your story. If you have a story to share, share it. If you have a question to ask, ask it. If you have some news to break, break it.
Thank you.
Adam Bass
