Once again, the citizens of western New York endured a life-threatening snowstorm, upending Christmas celebrations and leaving tens of thousands without power, heat, water and emergency services. To date, at least 31 people have died as a direct result of the storm’s wrath and there is little doubt that count will continue to rise.
While the national media certainly covered the basics, we are reminded, yet again, how critical local news is to our very survival. Buffalo and its surrounding communities may be used to snow measured in feet rather than inches, but even this storm was one for the record books.
The weather challenges faced by cities such as Buffalo are not new, but it is the local press — radio, television, print and digital — that provide the most enduring coverage and context, focusing on specific and actionable items that can — and will — save lives. Yes, social media is able to connect us with our friend groups and perhaps amplify stories we find irresistible, but hard facts concerning emergency services, road closures, downed power lines and the next approaching storm come from dedicated individuals working in local media, living in local communities and working 24/7 despite their own personal hardships because they know what they do matters. They literally save lives.
Now imagine, life without these reliable sources of news and information. Do you believe YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will deploy “boots on the ground”