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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, N ov em be r 22 ,2 01 8 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editor@oakvillebeaver.com facebook.com/OakvilleBeavfacebook.com/OakvilleBeavf @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Director of Production Mark Dills Regional Production Manager Manny Garcia Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss CONTACT US Oakville Beaver 901 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 289-293-0617 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyer/Retail: 289-293-0624 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We for verification purposes. We f reserve the right to edit, con- dense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM EDITORIAL The so-called digital age has brought us access to an abundance of news. But with all that information at our fingertips comes an equally unprecedented amount of misinformation, creating a system where trust can get lost. The recent rallying cry of "fake news" only adds more confusion as it provokes suspicion and discredits legiti- mate media. These types of tactics are not new. The history of news media is filled with deadly disagree- ments and presses confiscated by authorities (or mobs), tossed in waterways or set ablaze. Newspapers are an integral part of society, taking on the role of being an active and trusted participant in the daily lives of its neighbours with a truthful account of the day's events. The need for such information has not changed with the advent of the digital age. In fact, it has become even more important in a world where an abundance of unre- liable information is found, shared and circulated at the speed of a click of a button. Now, more than ever, there is a need for compelling, engaging, unique, relevant, and above all, trustworthy sources of information. Ultimately, it's about maintaining trust with our customers. Trust is not about blind faith or agreeing with every- thing we publish. It is about giving you the tools you need to make a good, informed judgment about the value we provide. It is about us being transparent, honest, reliable and responsive so you know - really know - who we are, what we do and how we do it. Our newsrooms are comprised of trained journalists who follow journalistic standards, which the public can view at any time on our website. We are committed to accuracy. If there is an error - and sometimes there are, because journalists are human and humans are fallible - we will correct the public re- cord. We very publicly admit our mistakes. We are also a member of the National NewsMedia Council, a self-regulatory ethics body that promotes ethical practices and deals with public complaints re- garding media coverage. Despite this, sometimes it seems journalists work under a shroud of mystery. We want to lift that veil. We have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. Just as government transparency and accountability are vital components to any working democracy, so too is a free, responsible and responsive press built on trust. We welcome your questions and value your com- ments. Email our trust committee at trust@metro- land.com. TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY MATTER SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT INSIDEHALTON.COM It's about trust. Our rela-It's about trust. Our rela-I tionship with our readers istionship with our readers ist built on transparency, honesty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative tolaunched a trust initiative tol tell you who we are and howtell you who we are and howt and why we do what we do. This article is part of that pro-This article is part of that pro-T ject.ject.j I like to think community newspapers and their readers have a mutually beneficial re- lationship, even a partner- ship. Editors, reporters and photographers get the privi- lege of telling stories about the people, places and eventsthe people, places and eventst that shape our towns and cit-that shape our towns and cit-t ies. Meanwhile, readers get to be in the know about the go- ings-on right outside theirings-on right outside theiri door and hopefully find infor- mation that helps them in their daily lives.their daily lives.t Recently during NationalRecently during NationalR Newspaper Week, we shone a spotlight on our publications and told you why they matterand told you why they mattera now more than ever. This week I am putting in my own two cents' worth, andmy own two cents' worth, andm in doing so, I ask you to imag-in doing so, I ask you to imag-i ine your town/city without aine your town/city without ai community newspaper. How would you know what went on at town councilwhat went on at town councilw Monday night? What was that heavy police presence up the street last night? What's the entertainment lineup for rib- fest this year?fest this year?f Whether the news is aboutWhether the news is aboutW a road closure, 10 events this weekend, or the newly-pro-weekend, or the newly-pro-w posed development in down- town, there is no substitute for a local paper.for a local paper.f Local newspapers are re- flections of their communi-flections of their communi-f ties - the interests, concernsties - the interests, concernst and passions of their resi-and passions of their resi-a dents. They touch our lives and remind us of how vitaland remind us of how vitala our small and immediate world is.world is.w And as much as we want toAnd as much as we want toA drive home a message thatdrive home a message thatd newspapers matter, we also know we are nothing if we areknow we are nothing if we arek not read. We know we have amazing, loyal readers, and itamazing, loyal readers, and ita even goes beyond that - whereeven goes beyond that - wheree we form what I consider to bewe form what I consider to bew a partnership. Many of you take the time to contact us with your story ideas as well as make sure we are on top of breaking news, and even let us know when weand even let us know when wea did something you didn't like.did something you didn't like.d That reader engagement is key in a successful commu- nity newspaper. So let's keep our partnership going strong. Together we will ensureTogether we will ensureT community newspapers ar- rive at your doorstep for yearsrive at your doorstep for yearsr to come. - Karen Miceli is manag- ing editor of Metroland Me- dia's Halton Division news- papers - The Burlington Post, Oakville Beaver, Milton Canadian Champion and Flamborough Review. She can be reached at kmice- li@metroland.com and 289- 293-0616. We welcome your questions and value your comments. Email our trust committee at trust@met- roland.com. THANK YOU FOR READING YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS REMIND US HOW VITAL OUR SMALL AND IMMEDIATE WORLD IS, WRITES MICELI KAREN MICELI Column