Defend Free Press? Davidson Local on World Press Freedom Day

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, we join journalists around the globe in honoring a shared commitment: to speak truth to power, to amplify community voices and to protect the freedom to tell the stories that matter — even when it's hard.

At Davidson Local, that commitment is more than symbolic. It shows up in the way we dig into uncomfortable issues, tell both sides of the story and stay at the table even when we’re criticized for it. It shows up in how we keep going despite budget shortfalls, a lack of advertising dollars and a barrage of online hostility — including, almost weekly, an email that calls us “a bunch of monkeys.”

And still, we show up, for FREE daily hyperlocal news.

Why? Because our community keeps turning to us. Government agencies, small businesses, nonprofits and local organizations regularly ask us to help share their most important updates — whether it's about housing, healthcare or safety. We don’t get to everything. Sometimes we make mistakes. We’re a small team, but we do what we can because people trust us to get it right.

That trust has meant helping our community understand the growing fentanyl crisis and translating public health information into Spanish — especially when government entities with official Language Access Plans have failed to do so

It has meant shining a light on the stories of Cambodian families who made Davidson County here after displacement and war. It has meant asking hard questions about who is being served — and who is being left behind — in our local systems.

It has also meant mentoring the next generation of journalists. Our interns, including rising voices like Amari King, bring fresh perspective, energy and a deep sense of responsibility to the newsroom. They are part of a future worth investing in.

World Press Freedom Day reminds us that this work isn’t just vital on the international stage — it’s critical right here in our own backyard. It’s about more than the First Amendment. It’s about making sure the people in our community are seen, heard and informed.

To our readers, our interns and everyone who believes in the power of a free press — thank you for walking with us. This work isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

Because every story matters. And so do the people who share them.