We are continuously told by the media — broadcasting, publishing, and Internet — that the media is giving the public what it wants. Is it? In 2024, what do we the public want? Sensation? Titillation? A soothing word smoothing the facts, interpretation of the facts, or just the plain facts? 

For 100 issues in almost 5 years, Stockbridge Updates has had some fun. It’s great to break news and be followed by the other, bigger, news sources. It is satisfying to provide space for our readers’ opinions whether we agree with them or not. However, all along, SU has had one goal: to tell you what’s going on in our village government; to bring you facts in a timely fashion. What you don’t know can hurt you. Moreover, democracy relies on an informed electorate.

What do we the public want: to hear about it when the plan is a fait accompli; to have the decision-making process closed to us, or to be part of it? We have experienced it both ways. 

GE polluted our land and water without our knowledge. They wished to do so with impunity. Caught, they wished to “cleanup” cheaply. An agreement signed, the process over; only then did GE and the EPA share. During one of the first public meetings, EPA made clear the plan was approved; they were merely sharing the details of the implementation. How’s that going for us? 

Now we have a new mega project. A letter in Reader-to-Reader objects to the Stockbridge Updates News Alert about the proposed new school. Kudos and full marks to the Berkshire Hills Regional Hill School District for having open, hybrid meetings on the proposals for the new school.

Thank you for writing SU. The letter says, “We are writing in response to your coverage of Monday night’s informational meeting about the Monument renovation project.” It says wait: “the vote is more than a year away.” It says, “Alternate ideas could rob us of this opportunity.” It says, “trust the process.” 

Do you want to trust the process or be part of it? Either way, we are going to pay for it. What is the point of a school so expensive, a concomitant tax bill so high, that young families with children cannot afford to live here? What is the sense of having a fabulous, beautiful school and a declining school population? 

We must decide what we want. If we want to be part of the process, it is never too early to report to you. If they want to spoon feed us their final vision, it is always too early.

If we want the hyper-local news, we need to fight for it and support it. On your behalf, SU will do the rest.