When something you care about is attacked, it is natural to react with emotion and it can be difficult to refrain from striking back. Whether you are called to defend a person, institution or ideal, it sometimes takes a moment of reason — a chance to take a breath and look at the bigger picture — to prepare an appropriate response.
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I have been besieged by people asking if Toledo Free Press will respond to the recent media attention on so-called “blight.” There is no question that our city has a lot of work to do to pick itself up, dust itself off and infuse new life in many of its neighborhoods, but none of that can be accomplished by any mere media organization unless it chooses to offer solutions.
In the coming weeks and months, Toledo Free Press will use its modest resources to help turn the conversation back to the positive aspects of Toledo. Not as an act of denial, but as a contribution to the home we love.
On the editorial side, Toledo Free Press editors are working on a monthly series that will spotlight the many local neighborhoods that are successfully revitalizing homes and businesses. We recently spotlighted the growth of the Warehouse District, and that story will serve as a model for the spotlight we intend to shine on the pockets of resistance that are fighting decay and cleaning up.
On the advertising side, Toledo Free Press is initiating a new program, “My Toledo, Buy Toledo.” We are asking supporters and businesses to join this movement by adding a special “My Toledo, Buy Toledo” logo to their ads, as a sign of support for the city and its people. Your sales representative can share the details with you; there are special pricing structures and an advertorial spotlight feature that can make it clear you and your business support Toledo’s ongoing evolution toward better days.
Local business, not media, is the key to rebuilding our city, and “My Toledo, Buy Toledo” seeks to magnify that movement.
Yes, we have a very long way to go, and yes, there needs to be recognition and discussion of the sad state of some of our buildings and neighborhoods. But we also need to work together to celebrate the examples of people who are acting, not waiting.
It’s a small response, but with enough voices, maybe we can drown out the naysayers. It will require more than talk; spending money at our locally owned businesses is the most immediate and effective way to help. Talk to your sales rep about how you can show your pride and investment in Toledo through the “My Toledo, Buy Toledo” program.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
