It is easy, during the heat of battle against overwhelming odds, to believe you are fighting alone, with just a few allies in the foxhole. During the past two years of the legal onslaught brought against us by Block Communications, parent of The Blade, we have often felt surrounded and depleted. But the reaction to “An urgent appeal,” last week’s column by Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller, has fortified and renewed our commitment to fight on.
Miller’s column was shared and posted scores of times, garnering comments of support from readers and media professionals across the country. National media watchers such as Jim Romenesko shared the column. Most people offered kind words and prayers, which are always appreciated. Many asked a simple question that has no simple answer: “How can I help?”
Even just reaching out and offering sympathetic words helps. Knowing there are legions of Lucas County residents and business leaders who understand and support our mission is heartening. Now that the public knows what is at stake — basic American rights of free speech, marketplace competition and private citizens’ rights to invest their money in a protected LLC — the support has become more focused.
We are adamant that the sentiment not be directed in a negative manner toward The Blade’s employees or its attorneys, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick; there is nothing to be gained by venting frustration or disappointment there. Instead, we ask that if you want to help us, channel your feelings into positive action. Help us by supporting the nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit events we sponsor. Help us by recognizing and thanking the businesses that support Toledo Free Press, through advertising or by allowing us to distribute at their location. Let the advertisers know you read Toledo Free Press and understand how important their patronage is, just as they understand how important your patronage is to them.
And if you frequent a business that doesn’t currently advertise with us, please urge them to. It doesn’t have to be a political statement. It’s an opportunity to get their message across in the state of Ohio’s best weekly newspaper, as so named for five consecutive years by the Society of Professional Journalists.
The small group of people that produces Toledo Free Press fights because we believe in the positive power of media. We believe in basic American rights of free speech and marketplace competition. We believe in Toledo as a city and as a spirit of resiliency and enterprise. And we believe in you, the hundreds of thousands of readers who support our efforts.
Please continue to read, share and urge those who can to support us. That is how you can help.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
