It’s no small thing to start a newspaper at the height of a nationwide newsroom decline.
In 2023, when The Coronado News first launched, the media landscape was headed in a steady downward trend. Papers were shutting down across the country at an alarming rate.
And the situation today remains similar. The U.S. has lost over one-third of its print newspapers in the past two decades.
An analysis from the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism confirms that 127 newspapers closed down in 2024. That’s nearly two-and-a-half per week, close to 3,300 outlets since 2005.
While many point to the steep decline of ad-friendly print publications, we can’t ignore the catastrophic drop in trust in media. Of the 46 countries polled by Poynter, the United States ranked dead last in terms of the public’s trust in media. According to a Gallup poll earlier this year, newspapers share the cellar alongside Congress as the least trusted institution, while small businesses, and the military – two of Coronado’s mainstay institutions – are the most trusted in our country.
A recent study out of Syracuse confirmed what most people know. Journalists are overwhelmingly liberal. Just 3.4% identify as “conservative.” Ouch. We can’t claim editorial “independence” while peddling as a ventriloquist dummy.
The news industry needs to own up, admit culpability in this crisis of trust, but also, take the lead in repairing the trust.
That’s where we come in.
The goal that this paper was founded on remains the same today: to produce fair and accurate coverage that investigates real issues, and asks tough, and sometimes controversial questions.
That’s why we published an award-winning investigative series on the Tijuana sewage crisis, and have reporters dedicated to covering the City Council, school board, sports, the Navy and personal interest stories.
So thank you, for bringing our words into your Coronado homes, computers and phones.
And now, we’re starting something new – an editorial board.
To prompt healthy conversation and debate, the board will provide readers with a well-researched, well-rounded view on topics of local importance. The commentaries will not be based on one-person’s expertise, but the collective perspectives of a team of Coronado residents.
The intention is to run a weekly article that challenges assumptions, asks hard questions and sometimes provides answers.
The board operates independently of our reporting, but upholds the same standards of accuracy.
We invite you to respond. If you have any questions, reach out to newsroom@thecoronadonews.com. We welcome ideas for editorials, letters to the editor and op-eds to generate healthy debates and conversations.
It’s time to fight for renewed trust in the media. Providing a forum for debate is a good place to start.
The people behind the editorials
Paul Huntsman: Paul is the founding owner of The Coronado News, which he launched in January of 2023. He is credited with saving the Salt Lake Tribune in 2016 during a time when many legacy newspapers were dying out. He is also the president and CEO of Huntsman Family Investments, a private investment platform, and has a part-time residence in Coronado.
“I care deeply about the future of Coronado,” said Huntsman. “The best way to participate and help in that effort is to ensure that we have high-quality journalism.”
Richard Bailey: Richard is the former mayor of Coronado, serving from 2016 to 2024. Prior to that, he was a Coronado City Council member for four years. He is a local business owner, with extensive experience in local, state and federal public policy.
“The editorial board should be an informed opinion that represents the collective perspectives of the Coronado community based on credible and verifiable information,” said Bailey.
Kathy Biederbeck: Kathy and her husband, Rick, are homeowners and live part-time in Coronado. She has always kept up with the current events that concern Coronado because of her investment in the community.
“Citizens deserve accurate information on the things that affect them, and an editorial board helps to present this information, which encourages community discourse,” said Biederbeck. “This is an important part of the democratic process and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Alan Wing: Alan is a consultant and leadership instructor for the NATO Special Operations University located in Chievres, Belgium. He retired as a captain from the United States Navy in July, 2023, after serving 27 years as a Navy SEAL officer. Wing is a graduate of Coronado High School and has lived intermittently in Coronado since 1977.
“Local journalism is a well-established shield to protect the local community from misinformation in an era where discerning the truth is becoming more challenging,” said Wing. “To that end, the editorial board offers a forum for debate that ideally results in a deeper and more complete understanding of the issues facing the Coronado community.”
