From the editor: We're committed to journalism that makes a difference

Beryl Love, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read

It is with great pride that we share with you today our Community Impact Report for 2022.

This report, which we plan to present annually, highlights some of The Enquirer’s most important journalism − the kind that informs, holds our elected leaders and institutions accountable and leads to positive change.

When I speak to groups in the community or on panels about the evolution of journalism in the digital age, I often make the point that I no longer consider The Enquirer as "the paper of record," a description that calls to mind a bygone era when people relied on newspapers for transcription-style reports of government meetings, stock prices, movie times − even school lunch menus and lists of marriage licenses. All of that raw information is available to us now in the palm of our hand.

STORIES THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE: The Enquirer's Community Impact Report 2022

So what is our value proposition? It’s a role that The Enquirer has served since it was founded in 1841: We deliver news of impact. And we take that raw information and give it context.

This year’s Community Impact Report highlights 10 such stories. It includes watchdog efforts, such as Sharon Coolidge’s story on an unreported power outage at Greater Cincinnati Water Work’s main water treatment plant.

Also highlighted is our in-depth series on how outside investors have been buying up houses locally, driving up rental prices at a time when rising home values have pushed would-be buyers out of the market.

Our push for government transparency and pledge to hold elected leaders accountable has always been a key part of our mission. Often, this involves formal Freedom of Information Act or Ohio Public Records Act requests and legal action if government officials do not comply. Our ongoing coverage of the P.G. Sittenfeld corruption trial and the Bengals stadium naming-rights deal are just two examples of those efforts.

Some of the most meaningful impact comes from public service journalism, another key part of our commitment to serving the community. Our annual Wish List project – a partnership with the United Way ­– connects those in need with people eager to help. And a story by Enquirer education reporter Maddie Mitchell that revealed 94% of Ohio’s public school teachers are white sparked meaningful action. The Washington-based Literacy Lab announced that 100 men of color were being recruited as tutors for its Leading Men Fellowship, a $4.6 million preschool literacy program that launched in Cincinnati last year.

Each and every day, my colleagues at The Enquirer are hard at work, telling stories that require expertise, tenacity and a relentless pursuit of the truth. In columns I’ve written throughout the year, I’ve underscored the importance of supporting local journalism with a subscription to The Enquirer. I’m pleased to report today that in 2022 we reached a significant milestone. Last year, we surpassed 40,000 digital-only subscriptions, a number that represents double-digit year over-year growth during extremely challenging economic conditions and does not include the thousands who who subscribe to our print edition.

If you are one of our subscribers, print or digital, thank you. Your investment is vital to the work we do.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, I’ll invite you to give us a try. We’re starting the year off with some special offers that provide unlimited access to our subscriber-exclusive stories.

As always, I value your feedback and suggestions. Let us know how we’re doing and what stories we should tackle this year to continue making a difference.

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He can’t respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.

Beryl Love
Beryl Love

Community support

The Enquirer proudly supports nonprofit organizations and other community programs through in-kind advertising, copromotions and employee volunteerism. Here are some of the organizations we support:

  • American Cancer Society

  • ArtsWave Cincinnati

  • Cincinnati NAACP

  • Cincinnati Parks Foundation

  • Cincinnati Reds Community Fund

  • Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Great Living Cincinnatians

  • Dan Beard Council Boy Scouts of America

  • Neediest Kids of All

  • Thanksgiving Day Race

  • United Way of Greater Cincinnati Wish List

2022 statewide awards

  • Best Daily Newspaper in Ohio / The Press Club of Cleveland

  • First Place, General Excellence / Ohio Associated Press Media Editors

  • Best Daily Newspaper in Ohio / Ohio Society of Professional Journalists

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Editor Beryl Love: How The Enquirer made a difference in 2022