With this being National Newspaper Week, I would like to acknowledge Altoona Mirror for its excellent work as a local news outlet.

With free speech being attacked lately and internet rumors being spread about as actual fact-based news, it’s comforting to have a local newspaper to give the public a view of our surrounding activities and opinions.

With the inception of the internet, small-town newspapers are disappearing too often, which could be argued as a danger to democracy.

Living in an information bubble is not good.

We tend to seek information sources that are like-minded.

Any important decision should be made after reviewing both sides of the argument or at least search several sources of information to try to determine the truth.

Our local newspaper is a great source of that information.

Thank you, Altoona Mirror. Long may you run.

George Ferrick, Altoona