By Staci Baird on Jan 10, 2026

What We’re Learning From You (and Why It Matters)

Since launching La Verne Daily News, I’ve said from the start: this newsroom is community-powered. That’s not just a tagline—it’s a commitment to listen, learn, and build something with our neighbors, not just for them.

Notes from the Publisher

Welcome to the first edition of Notes from the Publisher! This is an occasional newsletter with notes from me (the publisher) about the business, mission, and realities of producing local journalism. You can unsubscribe at any time here.

Since launching La Verne Daily News, I’ve said from the start: this newsroom is community-powered. That’s not just a tagline—it’s a commitment to listen, learn, and build something with our neighbors, not just for them.

Over the past several weeks, dozens of readers have taken the time to complete our ongoing reader survey, and the early results are already shaping how we report, what we prioritize, and how we show up for La Verne.

Here’s what we’re hearing so far:

First, there is strong interest in news that is specifically about La Verne—not regional headlines or surface-level updates, but reporting that explains how local decisions affect daily life. Topics like city government, public safety, schools, and neighborhood issues consistently rise to the top.

Second, many respondents told us they want to better understand what’s happening behind the scenes at City Hall and other public institutions. That feedback reinforces why explainers, meeting previews, and context-rich reporting are so important—and why we’ll keep investing time in that work.

Third, readers say they value community connection just as much as information. People want to get to know each other better. Knowing who’s doing what work, who’s being impacted, and how neighbors are showing up for one another all help bring a community together. That insight is helping guide our features, profiles, and community-focused storytelling, and it supports our goal of hosting local events where we can all get together IRL.

We’re also learning how people prefer to receive information. Newsletters continue to stand out as a trusted, reliable way to stay informed, while social media plays an important role in discovery and conversation. That balance helps us focus our energy where it matters most.

Last, but not least, 46% of respondents are willing to pay between $1 and $10 per month for regular, high-quality La Verne news. That’s nearly half of all respondents, indicating real potential for a low-cost membership or supporter model. In light of this, I am excited to announce our new membership tiers! Become a member today and help us keep good news growing in La Verne. Please note that all early subscribers (subscribed before Jan. 10, 2026) have been grandfathered in at the "Neighbor" membership tier, so you will keep receiving our newsletters for the next year even if you haven't become a member (unless you choose to unsubscribe).

The kind of feedback we're getting through our survey is invaluable. It helps ensure La Verne Daily News remains responsive, relevant, and rooted in real community needs—not assumptions.

Most importantly, it reminds us that local journalism works best when it’s a two-way conversation.

We want to hear from you.

We know this is a tough time to keep up with the news, and we want to be your most trusted source for information about our community. A shared set of facts and a place to talk about them are central to our mission.

If you haven’t shared your feedback yet, we invite you to take a few minutes to complete our reader survey. Your voice directly helps shape the future of local news in La Verne.

👉 Share your feedback here: https://forms.gle/wJcEPqa3UMJydrg76

Thank you for helping us build a newsroom powered by community, curiosity, and trust!