When our family moved to Edgewater in the summer of 2012, I went on a search for news sources about what was happening in Edgewater. Beyond rare stories in the Denver Post or Westword, it was hard to find out what was happening in town. When we started Edgewater Collective, one of the gaps in working together to strengthen our local schools was a lack of a medium to share the great things that were happening inside our neighborhood schools.
So I decided to launch an online news site focused on Edgewater and use the name of a historic Edgewater newspaper, the Edgewater Echo, as the name for the site. The first story in the Edgewater Echo on November 14, 2013, was a quick story congratulating the Jefferson High School football team on making the playoffs.
Since then, the Edgewater Echo has spotlighted local businesses, shared stories of the great things happening in our community, and told the stories of Edgewater’s past. We’ve utilized social media to spread these stories and events to the broader community. We also reported on City Council meetings and shared updates from City of Edgewater staff.
Because Edgewater is such a small town, there were times when community members were confused as to whether the Edgewater Echo was connected to the city. There were times when I stepped on toes by reporting stories that I felt the community needed to know. Above all, my goal was to focus on spreading positive stories of what was happening in our little community.
This is where we come to a transition with the Edgewater Echo. Last night, I was honored to be appointed to the Edgewater City Council and fill a vacancy. Because we are a small community, and there are perceived and real conflicts of interest with being the editor of the Edgewater Echo, I have decided to step away from managing this site and the social media accounts connected to it.
When Edgewater Collective broadened its mission to focus on working with Latino communities across Jefferson County, I had a hard time figuring out how the Edgewater Echo fit into our work with Edgewater Collective. So transitioning away from the Echo makes sense for our organization too.
I would love for someone, or a group of people, to steward the Edgewater Echo while I am on Edgewater City Council, but I don’t know exactly what this would look like. I just know that there are too many real or perceived conflicts of interest if I am connected to the Echo and serving on City Council.
If you are interested in being part of the plan to continue the Edgewater Echo, send me an email at joel@edgewatercollective.org. Even in a small community like ours, I believe it is important to have a community-run news source.
Thank you so much for reading and interacting with the Edgewater Echo over the years!
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
Welcome to the world of local politics and journalism!! It is indeed, a hard road to follow. However, you’ll find that being part of the government will be fulfilling at times and frustrating at times. AND always needs the eye of the public, as well as a voice to give to the public. I’m hoping you will find that source, an apprentice from a journalism class, an interested citizen, a senior citizen, who has the time—
Who knows where this appointment may lead? You have lots of experience in Edgewater–don’t be afraid to voice your opinion, or to vote “no.” You are now representing ALL of Edgewater’s residents. Good Luck!!