As we look back on 2008 I would like to thank Robinson Newspapers for their contribution to the welfare of our community for yet another year.

You can count on one hand the local companies that own media in our area. Robinson Newspapers is one of them, thank God!

Recent years have seen out-of-town, out-of-country purchases of local news outlets. This means a substantial drop in local news coverage and community commitment.

Many of us take for granted a community-owned newspaper until they are sold to outside owners.

Is there a locally-owned TV station? One.

Are there any local radio stations left? A handful.

Mega-owners with headquarters in the Eastern U.S. consider us to be in the boondocks. They could care less what we think or do, as long as they can peddle their holdings to the ad agencies looking for bottom ad rates.

Hopefully 2009 will see new leadership nationwide that will lead to more local media ownership.

We can only hope the five companies that own 80 percent of America's media will no longer own those who govern our freedom of speech.

Best wishes to Robinson Newspapers in 2009! Hooray for independence!

Bill Wippel

Normandy Park