By Wyatt Haupt Jr.

The Daily World

Local newspapers have long played an important role in communities they serve across the Pacific Northwest.

People from all walks of life have come to rely on the content local newspapers provide with each print edition, as well as on their digital and social media platforms.

We are keenly aware of the numerous sources residents, business owners, visitors and others have at their disposal for news. But we believe there is no better source than The Daily World for information about what is happening in Grays Harbor and northern Pacific counties.

Local content is key to our mission. We are committed to providing as much quality local content and editorials for our readers as possible. We will strive to be clear and objective with our news coverage, and expect to be held to the highest of journalistic standards.

With that in mind, we want to encourage more reader involvement and interaction via emails, in-person visits, letters to the editor and telephone calls whether you agree or disagree with what we report and say about issues that affect our community.

We recently bid farewell to former editor Doug Barker. He spent 37 years with The Daily World before retiring last month after a distinguished journalism career, in which he worked his way up from reporter to managing editor, and then editor.

I have succeeded Mr. Barker as the new editor of The Daily World. I have worked for publications throughout the western United States during my 25-year career. Most recently, I was the news editor for the East Oregonian in Pendleton from September 2018 to May 2021.

The East Oregonian won the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s general excellence award for its category two years in a row while I was the news editor. I hope to have similar success with The Daily World.

As we move forward, we will also be looking at the design and layout of The Daily World with an eye on some improvements. At the same time, we will strive to keep a strong focus on our digital and social media platforms — both of which we are looking to grow with the newspaper.

And, rest assured, our commitment to the community in which we live and work will be unwavering.

We look forward to putting in the work it will take to achieve our goals and, more importantly, delivering the best possible news product online and in print for our advertisers and readers for years to come.

As we begin to move away from the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage you all to be safe and considerate of others. We hope you enjoy the final days of spring and have a wonderful summer.

The Daily World Editor Wyatt Haupt Jr. can be reached at 360-537-3923 or via email at wyatt.haupt@thedailyworld.com.