Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Martha Dunlevy-Peters

To the Editor:

The Standard’s recent announcement to close their brick-and-mortar location and shift to remote operations reflects current industry trends. Newspapers across the country have been impacted by a flurry of evolving circumstances, all of which have forever changed the landscape of journalism. Digital transformation, revenue shifts, multiple platform options, financial pressures, and audience migration have imposed a new narrative.

But like anything in life, our response influences outcomes. The ability to adapt in an ever-changing world is an underrated quality, and probably one of the most valuable assets for any business.

The move to a home office points to resilience within the storms of change. In an environment that demands flexibility to survive, it is a necessary step to keep this legacy newspaper in circulation for years to come.  The value of having a local paper is immeasurable. It can never be truly appreciated until it is gone.

My viewpoint is very personal. In September of 1987, my late father, John Dunlevy, was the third-generation owner of the Allamakee Journal. Due to increasing publishing costs, he sold Lansing’s weekly small-town newspaper to News Publishing, Inc. of Black Earth, WI. Eventually, through the hands of consolidation, The Standard was formed when the Allamakee Journal and the Waukon Standard merged into a single publication.  Yet after all these years, The Standard remains a local staple, serving Allamakee County - something we must never take for granted.

In the face of challenge and change, technology provides the newspaper an opportunity to operate without having a physical office, and preserves its ability to continue sharing the stories of our local communities. I wish the staff success as they take The Standard home.

Respectfully,
Martha Dunlevy-Peters
Kansas City, MO