Sharon Core: ‘At The Land, you read stories from people who care about where they live and want to share that place and people with you’

My sixth grade social studies teacher taught me to read the newspaper. Every morning, Mrs. Ahern would have a “news” question written on the chalkboard. Six correct answers and your grade went up a point. Every morning before leaving for school, I would comb through the front page of the paper taking note of what had happened in the world while I slept and hoping one of them would be the answer to the news question.

I am very grateful to Mrs. Ahern and my sixth-grade self. Reading the newspaper has been a part of my daily routine – best with a morning cup of coffee. Oftentimes, I would read the paper and think “what would have happened if I had taken up journalism?” 

I’ve always loved words – reading, writing, listening. I marvel at the pictures painted by them. On occasion, I’ll read a poem or hear the lyrics of a song and think “I know all those words and never would have put them together like that.” 

My love of words keeps me reading the news and until recently kept me wondering “what would have happened…?” During COVID, I was sending a regular newsletter to colleagues and would find many stories in The Land that I wanted to share–in part because of the way the words were put together to tell stories vital to what we were all experiencing. One day I read about a class they were offering in community journalism. “Oh my,” I thought, “this may be a possibility.” I applied and was accepted and spent six weeks in early 2022 learning the beginnings of journalism. Each time I write a story, I marvel that I get to put words together to describe happenings in my neighborhood. And then, when it is published, my heart skips a beat. I still have my day job and look! I’ve taken up journalism!

The commitment The Land has made to train community journalists makes it a unique news platform. Within its screens, you are reading stories from people who care about where they live and want to share that place and people with you. And the commitment doesn’t come free. The Land ensures each of their writers is compensated for their work. Each community journalist is paid $300 for completing the course and publishing a story. 

I invite you to join me in supporting the community journalists program. It is well worth the gift you will give. And my sixth grade self thanks you.

Sincerely,

Sharon Core