This marks my first editorial as the new editor of PGN.
PGN saw the departure of its longtime editor last week, and in the past few days the staff has come together seamlessly to overcome the many obstacles expected with a transition. Getting a quality paper out, on time, each week is no easy feat, but PGN’s employees, both veterans and newcomers, have made my first week on the job a pleasure. I thank those who had faith in me that I could take on this position.
In my past five years as a staff writer, I got a crash course in community-news reporting. I admittedly knew little about the city’s many-faceted LGBT community when I came on board, but our community is not one known for its silence — community members made sure I was aware of who they were, what they were working on and what they expected from me, and from PGN.
I covered the launch of new community organizations, and the financial woes of others; the awards won by local LGBT leaders, and the unfortunate deaths of others; the election of our first black president, and the likely election of Pennsylvania’s first openly LGBT state lawmaker; the passage of the federal hate-crimes law, the repeated, fruitless efforts to secure state-level LGBT nondiscrimination protections and the local movement to do so. Regardless of the breadth of these stories, community was at the center of them all.
This is a principle I will carry with me into the editor role. As a community-based LGBT newspaper, we have an obligation to cover, accurately and fairly, all aspects of our community. We will continue to strive to show the many faces, issues, accomplishments, and sometimes failings, of the LGBT community. We will be present for as many meetings and events as possible. We will not just track the movement in our community but will work to further progress — we will ask the tough questions, address the issues that mainstream publications may lack the insight to adequately cover and use our platform to press for reform.
To be a true community newspaper, however, the lines of communication must be two-way. While PGN dispenses information to the community, we also want the community to keep us informed. Let us know about issues that are affecting you and may be impacting others in the community. Let us know about events you’re involved with. Let us know your concerns, your questions and your opinions.
For 36 years, PGN has been a voice for the community and, in this new chapter, we will continue to work each week to be a true LGBT community newspaper.
