Valentine’s Day thoughts on how to find love, happiness and a really good dessert
Eliza Osborne
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What’s journalism — and what’s not
Sep 10, 2025
We know that our community values its journalism. The generous contributions from readers and the steady support from our advertisers is evidence that you value the job we do in providing a weekly report on the goings and comings in your towns and in the region. But how about the larger world of American news consumers? A recent study by the Pew Research Center on “How Americans View Journalists in the Digital Age” reveals that most us put value on the role of journalists in society, even as they see their influence declining.
The study also explores the mixed views of Americans when it comes to the various types of content that journalists provide. Respondents in the study are either unsure about or actually don’t think that someone who compiles and shares someone else’s reporting, or offers opinions or commentary should be called a journalist. Someone who conducts his or her own reporting would be — yes — a journalist. The highest certainty about who Americans qualify to be journalists falls to anyone who writes for a newspaper, followed by television and radio reporters, including radio news show hosts. Newsletters, podcasts and social media posts largely fall into a “not-journalism” category. However, the study also found perceptions differed by age group. Four in ten adults aged 18 to 29 said that “someone who posts about news on social media is a journalist,” while in the ‘65-and-up’ group, only 14% considered social media posts as the work of a journalist.
Americans are most likely to see journalists as those who conduct their own reporting. The staff at The Millerton News and The Lakeville Journal produce original content. We are present at meetings, events, community fairs, sporting events and elsewhere in the community to report what we see and hear. We are journalists producing our own content.
In what might be a commentary on today’s world, the study found that 59% of Americans say journalists are “extremely” or “very important” to the well-being of society. But 49% also say journalists are losing their influence. In past surveys by Pew, journalists have been less trusted to act in the best interest of the public than other institutions and professions, including the military, scientists and police officers.
When it comes to what Americans want from their news providers: Honesty, intelligence and authenticity top the list. And those attributes are followed by kindness — meaning that it’s important to Americans at large that the people who provide their news display kindness. Americans care far less about wanting humor, charisma or popularity from their news sources.
In today’s polarized society, it is encouraging to see that Pew found three-quarters of Americans believe that journalists should report both sides of an issue or event, giving all sides equal coverage. That’s also in line with the perspective of U.S. journalists themselves, according to an earlier Pew survey.
What do you think?
How do you view journalism in the digital age? Who counts as a journalist? What matters most to you from a journalist? Do you agree that both sides of an issue deserve equal coverage?
Let us know by sending an email to: publisher@millertonnews.com
(To read the full Pew report, go to: pewrsr.ch/4fDZmnl)
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The Weavery is Stanton Home’s oldest activity space, featuring a collection of vintage and modern floor looms. It offers opportunities for building dexterity, creative expression, and social connection through fiber arts.
Provided
Stanton Home is holding its annual Harvest Roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Great Barrington, an evening of farm-to-table dining, live swing music, and community connection.
For nearly 40 years, Stanton Home has supported adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential programs, therapeutic services and skill-building activities.
“Here in the Berkshires, adults with diverse abilities often face barriers like limited housing, tricky transportation, and fewer opportunities for meaningful work,” said Executive Director Peter Stanton. “Stanton Home flips that script. Our mission is to partner with adults to pursue healthy, self-determined lives.”
The Harvest Roast features locally grilled meats, roasted vegetables from Stanton’s own gardens, warm apple crisp with SoCo Creamery ice cream, and beverages —all set to the swing and gypsy jazz rhythms of the Lucky 5 Band.
“The Harvest Roast is a celebration of what makes our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant,” Stanton said. “Every ticket and sponsored table supports programs that make a lasting difference.”
Guests will begin in the gardens with a signature cocktail before gathering at long farm tables for a shared meal and celebration.
“Though this night matters, the work is year-round,” Stanton added. “People can help by shopping locally at the farm store or buying handmade weavery goods, pitching in with time or skills, gardening, lending a hand at events or by partnering with Stanton’s programs like composting or sourcing local goods. Folks can also speak up for inclusion in their workplace or community circle. Even the smallest action helps keep the mission alive.”
Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds support Stanton Home’s inclusive programs. Reserve at donorbox.org/events/771775/steps/choose_tickets or call 413-441-0761.
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Borden ends bottling with layoffs; Rudd Pond swim meet; Amenia orphans stranded in Boston
Sep 10, 2025
The following excerpts from The Millerton News were compiled by Kathleen Spahn and Rhiannon Leo-Jameson of the North East-Millerton Library.
September 6, 1934
‘Borden’s Ends Bottling Operation Here; Ignore Offers To Co-operate’; The Borden’s Farm Products Company, Inc., ceased the bottling operation at its Millerton plant Tuesday with a resultant lay-off of twenty-one men “in order to effect economic retrenchments,” in the words of Francis R. Elliott, assistant to the president of the corporation, “made necessary by the peculiar and distressing conditions in which the industry finds itself.” At the same time denying that they were guilty of hasty deliberation, officials of the Borden’s Company followed out the high handed policy which they have pursued throughout the controversy over the local plant, bluntly refusing offers of village officials and the Chamber of Commerce to co-operate in working out a more suitable plan for the station.
‘Lee Miller Winner At Rudd Pond’; Lee Miller, of Millerton, won the junior boys’ fifty-yard free style swimming race and placed second in the fifty-yard breast stroke event in the annual water carnival conducted Sunday at Rudd Pond by the Taconic State Park Commission. Charlotte Manning, also of Millerton, placed third in the women’s fifty-yard swim, while in the Junior boys’ division W. Kelly, of Copake Falls, placed second in the fifty-yard breast stroke and D. Matych, of Copake Falls, was third. Henry Idema, Beacon swimming star, won the point trophy, taking first place in two events and third in another.
‘Amenia Orphans Held By Police’; Two orphans whose adopted home is in Amenia were held by Boston police early this week awaiting the arrival of their aunt and guardian, Dorothy Smith, who left immediately for the Massachusetts city after receiving word by telephone from the pair at the termination of an automobile tour of New England. The children, Thomas J. Smith, 17, and Marian, 13. left the Smith home with one of the family cars a few days ago, but were forced to telephone their aunt from Boston when they ran short of funds.
The aunt ordered them to go to one of Boston’s best hotels, and at the same time requested the police to hold the children until her arrival.
‘Attendance records broken at County Fair’; Dutchess County Fair officials announced last week-end as the nintieth [sic] annual fair was drawing to an end that attendance records established in 1933, the highest previous attendance marks in the history of the fair, had been broken this year. The total attendance for the week was reported to be in excess of 34,000, and it was indicated that the fair was a financial success.
‘Art Feud Bursts Forth Anew: Wilson Appeals For “More Generous Public”’; The Lime Rock art feud, in which Winslow Wilson, Texas portrait painter, and G. Glenn Newell, Dover Plains artist, are the principals, has burst forth with renewed vigor as a result of the reported $100,000 slander action which Mr. Wilson disclosed exclusively in last week’s issue of The News he was bringing against the sixty-two-year-old painter of pastoral scenes. Mr. Wilson, who revealed last week that he was suing Mr. Newell for libel because of remarks he alleges the latter made in the presence of Mr. Wilson’s prospective clients in the Lime Rock art gallery, now appeals through the columns of The News for the privilege of exhibiting his painting, “The Morn Children,” in “any city, town or village in the United States that will give his picture a “fair showing.”
September 4, 1975
‘Renovations Delayed At Grade Schools’; Progress on construction and renovation work in the Millerton and Amenia Elementary Schools has been slowed down in recent weeks by a delay in the delivery of materials.
The $280,309 worth of work was approved by Webutuck District voters in a bond issue presented in the 1973-74 school elections.
September 7, 2000
‘West Nile Virus: More Infected Birds Found’; POUGHKEEPSIE— The Dutchess County Department of Health has learned of two additional dead birds that have tested positive for West Nile virus. One was found in Beacon July 28 and the other in East Fishkill Aug, 15. This brings the total number of positive birds to 10.
“Combating the West Nile virus takes a cooperative effort between the public and private sector,” stated Dr. Michael C. Caldwell, commissioner of Health for Dutchess County. Data received by the Dutchess County Department of Health indicates that residents need to increase their efforts in reducing the mosquito population.
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