Local journalism has been in a dramatic tailspin over the past two decades.

In the U.S., an average of two newspapers close every week. Mergers and consolidation have significantly reduced the number of independent news voices, and the country has lost almost two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.

Newspapers share the blame for the decline in local journalism. They’ve struggled to adapt to the internet and changing reader needs.

Despite these challenges, local journalism remains essential, and I believe there’s a path forward.

That’s why I started The Bentonville Bulletin in April and why I’m excited to announce that we’ve found a managing editor to lead our news coverage.

Heather Jarvis McCombs, an accomplished journalist and Bentonville resident with 15 years of experience in newspapers and magazines, started full time yesterday.

Given the magnitude of the problem, this hire might seem small. But considering there are only 1.5 full-time reporters from other outlets dedicated to Bentonville, it’s significant.

With Heather’s hire and a growing network of freelance storytellers, we’ve effectively doubled the number of journalists focused on Bentonville. We are looking forward to tracking the fast-paced growth of our city and highlighting those who make a difference, along with events, entertainment and more.

Heather is the perfect person to lead the revitalization of local news in our city. In her career to date, she’s been an arts and entertainment editor, digital engagement editor, magazine editor and copy editor, among other roles.

She shares my commitment to producing local news that’s available free of charge for all residents. We both agree that journalism needs to radically reinvent itself to stay relevant while also upholding high ethical standards and quality. I encourage you to email her with story ideas, news tips and feedback.

Considering the state of local news, you might wonder if we’ll succeed. There are many reasons to be optimistic, but I sometimes wonder the same thing.

The path forward is uncertain, but our success will depend on you, our readers. If we earn your support, we’ll succeed. If not, we’ll fail. It’s as simple as that.

With that said, would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to support this mission today?