EDITORIAL

The Advocate-Messenger

In the midst of a significant public health crisis that is changing daily life for almost every American, it is important to know some things aren’t changing.

One thing that won’t change is that we will continue to publish The Advocate-Messenger and update our website, www.amnews.com, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also follow our Facebook page, facebook.com/amnewsonline, for updates.

For more than 150 years, The Advocate-Messenger has published news and information for all of Boyle County, and we don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon.

However, we do have to make some temporary adjustments for the sake of public health, and in the interest of full transparency, we are sharing those changes with you here.

We are still conducting all of the business of the newspaper, and if you need to reach us, you can find more information below.

Our reporters, who are typically out and about covering multiple events and meetings and conducting multiple interviews per day, will temporarily transition to reporting remotely whenever possible. For a time, there will be more interviews conducted by phone or using other technology rather than meeting in person, and there will be more submitted photography in place of photos taken by our staff.

When we must be on location to effectively cover a story, we will keep a respectful distance, decline to shake hands and take other measures as necessary.

While our office is closed to the public, you can reach us through the following methods:

• To contact our publisher, email mike.caldwell@amnews.com.
• To contact our editor, email ben.kleppinger@amnews.com.
• To suggest a story or request to speak with a reporter, email news@amnews.com.
• For advertising, email Carrie Shields at carrie.shields@amnews.com or Lee Smith at lee.smith@amnews.com.
• For classifieds, email Karen Combs at karen.combs@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or Terah Hatton at terah.hatton@bluegrassnewsmedia.com.
• For public notices, email ampublicnotices@amnews.com.
• For all other issues or more information, call 859-236-2551.

We appreciate all of our loyal readers who are walking with us through these unprecedented times.

We encourage you to heed the recommendations from Gov. Andy Beshear and state public health officials about how to minimize the spread of the virus and protect you and your loved ones. Practice social distancing. Wash your hands. Stay home whenever you can. Do not go out in public if you are ill.

We also ask you to consider ways you can be a good citizen and neighbor during this time. Check on your neighbors and make sure they have what they need, especially the elderly, sick or vulnerable.

Find ways to use the time you are at home to build connections with your family — play games, eat meals together, talk to one another.

Support local businesses by ordering take-out or doing some online shopping at local stores (and while you’re at it, continue to support this newspaper by subscribing, buying a paper, maintaining your advertising and even by just clicking on our website).

We look forward to emerging on the other end of this crisis a stronger newspaper and stronger community.