GOUGH: Building bridges, not burning them

If you didn’t have a chance to watch our MRN This Week panel discussion on tax incentives for businesses, you should:

Debates make for better content, I’ll admit. Aren’t we all just waiting for our octogenarian presidents go at it Thursday night? Biden drooling … Trump’s makeup running as Jake Tapper turns off the air conditioning in the room … so much fun!

But we wanted dialogue without interruptions on this topic, although I believe the people who participated in last week’s discussion would have been cordial had we framed it that way.

I believe common ground can be found that will allow a development to happen at 54th and Broadway. I don’t have a problem with the city doing the needed infrastructure work to make it possible, but cramming four restaurants into that space does seem like overkill. I know we just got Target, but would a Marshall’s be too much to ask for in one of those spots? (That was for my wife.)

Of course, if you just follow the social media commentary, you would believe common ground is never attainable in any situation, which is a direct reflection of America today.

This format … this type of content … is what separates Muddy River News from the rest of the “local” media.

Media can serve multiple roles. Inform the public. Provide thoughtful opinion. Promote business and events. Help those who need it. Sometimes, the news is good. Sometimes, it’s bad. We don’t take pleasure in reporting the bad news, although it does tend to draw more eyeballs.

We don’t have the biggest staff. But I challenge you to find a group of people doing what we do here who care more. It’s not uncommon for us to be group texting content ideas throughout a weekend or in the evenings.

Our investment into the Quincy-Hannibal area goes back to when most of us were growing up around here. Knowing where we are going when we are in Pike County, Illinois or Ralls County, Missouri.

We don’t need out of town consultants or corporate overlords to come in and package what we present. Our content comes from knowing what matters to our friends and neighbors, or sometimes, just what makes us laugh.

We do journalism. We also do entertainment. We’re trying to create relevant and compelling content that will bring the reader and viewer back time and time again.

As always, thank you for reading and watching.

J. Robert Gough is the Publisher/General Manager of Muddy River News.