A new year always brings with it the opportunity for a fresh commitment to our mission to deliver local news.

But you know more than most how difficult this work has become. The newsrooms of the East Oregonian and our sister publications are smaller than ever and under greater budgetary restrictions than ever. Yet we strive to cover as much or more than we have in the past.

This is where community really comes into community journalism.

To do our work well, we need more community partners, more community connections even though our newsrooms have fewer staff to make those connections.

Years ago, well before the pandemic, we had more staff. A full sports team, more photographers and more news reporters. We had more fingers in more community pies.

Just count the bylines in the EO and you’ll see how few of us there are.

So we’re asking you, our readers, to help us in our mission to bring you local news. We want to know what you want us to report on.

Do you want more local government meeting coverage? Any local governments in particular? More coverage of the local economy from business openings to employment trends? Do you want more or fewer profiles of local personalities?

Community journalism starts and ends with you, our community members.

Your input will help us make decisions on what to cover. Please contact us with your suggestions, your ideas, even your criticisms so we can be better.

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The East Oregonian has taken up residence at its new location. We are now at 1100 Southgate, Suite 6, Pendleton.