Editor has message for readers

From Dallas Morning News Executive Editor Katrice Hardy: Thank you, North Texas, for your warm welcome

By Katrice Hardy

From the first time I briefly visited Dallas, to a few weeks ago when I officially made the city my home, I have consistently had the same thought: This is a community whose members care deeply for one another.

And it’s one that has welcomed and embraced me with open arms as I’ve begun to explore the city. I’ve already visited and eaten at restaurants in Lowest Greenville, in Knox-Henderson and Uptown, in downtown and in Frisco, gone on a gondola ride at Las Colinas, heard live music in Deep Ellum and taken a stroll for two through NorthPark Center.

I’ve even watched an LSU game (Geaux Tigers) with fellow alumni in Lower Green-ville. I hope to soon take in a Saints game there, too. It’s my home-state team, but I ap- preciate that I am now living among so many passionate Cowboys fans.

Just about everywhere I’ve visited, “Welcome to Texas” is what I’ve heard from so many of you as soon as you learned that I am a new resident.

I’m humbled and honored that I get to serve you as editor of The Dallas Morning News, a paper I’ve admired since my days at LSU, where a professor once told me how fortunate I would be if I ever landed a job here.

It’s also a privilege. Since middle school, journalism is all I have ever wanted to do.

And every opportunity I have had to work in journalism, first as a college student at my hometown newspaper, The Advocate of Baton Rouge, then later at The Virginian-Pi- lot and in more recent years at The Greenville News in South

Carolina and at The Indianapolis Star, I’ve never lost sight of why I love this profession.

And I certainly won’t do so here in Dallas, where I plan to live for many years.

The reason I was so drawn to journalism is that I wanted to share the stories of those who were neglected, to do the kind of work that held accountable those we elect and should respect, to find the hidden gems that are in every city that make Dallas and so many others unique and special.

I’ve said this before, and you’ll probably hear me say it again: No thriving, growing and energetic city can truly be successful without a strong news organization.

It’s clear so many of you feel that way, too.

In emails and phone calls during my first few weeks, you’ve shared your thoughts on stories we have published, sometimes offered suggestions on how we should write more on certain issues and have also occasionally questioned why we chose to spotlight an issue.

We welcome all feedback.

As I get to know Dallas and continue to hold weekly meetings to introduce myself to so many of you, know that I’m doing so with the mission that the company’s founders so eloquently articulated almost 136 years ago.

We are dedicated to covering the issues that impact everyday life in North Texas. And while so many things are different about journalism today since the paper’s founding, I can confidently tell you that our mission has not and won’t change.

The Dallas Morning News seeks to report on issues and also on solutions; we seek to scrutinize, highlight and investigate.

We want to be your top local destination for news on issues that impact you today and tomorrow and in years to come.

In my first few weeks working alongside our passionate and talented staff, we’ve covered and exclusively broken stories about how a mistake by an IT professional at Dallas City Hall has led to at least one man’s murder trial being postponed and questions about how local prosecutors can safely proceed with dozens of other criminal cases in which evidence may be missing.

We’ve taken you inside a local pediatric hospital that’s overwhelmed with young COVID-19 patients.

And we’ve provided you with up-to-the-minute scores and results from dozens of local high school football games on Thursday and Friday nights.

We fiercely protect our commitment through our work to make a difference.

The News’ journalists care about North Texas and this state just as much as you do. They’ve gone to school here, purchased homes, moved their aging parents here, and some of us are now sending our kids to schools here. And like me, they eat at and support local restaurants and countless other businesses daily.

They can’t do their important work without your support.

So if you don’t already, sub- scribe to The Dallas Morning News and support the dozens of journalists who dedicate themselves to serving you.

If we aren’t part of your daily routine, I hope we will soon be.