Over the last few months, we’ve been discussing what role we want to play in our community. We’ve been reaching out to our readers more often, asking what they want in their newsletters and inviting them to be a part of our newspaper, which is really their newspaper — your newspaper.
When we cover issues, it’s usually because our readers pointed us in that direction. Through emails, messages and comments on social media, or during interviews. We can’t call ourselves a community newspaper without the community, and we take pride in how much we listen to our readers.
The Signal Tribune’s snazzy new logo embodies our promise to our readers: to be a beacon of resources, accountability and useful coverage.
So, what’s our role if you, our reader, guide our coverage? That’s where our new logo comes in. Just like the smoke signals used by Native tribes atop Signal Hill, just like the lighthouses scattered amongst Long Beach’s beaches, we want to be a spotlight and a beacon for our community.
We aim to be a beacon for people who need help locating resources in their community such as food, clean water, affordable housing, clothing and basic utilities. We’ll also highlight affordable fun, sports, free ways to connect with their neighbors or a safe place to just hang out and exist.
We also pledge to make this newspaper work for our community, giving power to those who cannot use their voice due to legal, racial, economic or environmental injustices, corruption or inequalities of power. We aim to shine a light on systems in Long Beach and Signal Hill that are not serving the people the way they are intended to by pursuing answers to our readers’ questions, sharing information, and amplifying resources to empower people to fight these corrupt systems.
We will use this beacon wisely, carefully considering in what ways we cover various neighborhoods. Not every crime warrants a story detailing the victim’s name and location — that’s not public safety. Instead, we’ll aim to analyze the root of the different types of violence in our community and how we might fix it, without exploiting survivors or those already suffering. We’ll highlight those already fighting harmful systems and share their expertise until it’s common knowledge.
We also aim to be a beacon for the community to use as they see fit, welcoming collaborations to reach more residents, promoting local businesses, nonprofits and resources, and inviting people to publish their ideas and beliefs in our Opinion section.
We hope our new logo embodies that promise.
By picking up this paper, you’re already an important part of the Signal Tribune. Want to get involved? Have a story or news tip to share? Just want to get something off your chest? Reach out to us at Newspaper@SignalTribune.com. We’re looking forward to meeting you.
