In July I took a job selling advertising for a local community newspaper. 

I got a fancy title —  Advertising Director, and business cards. After six months, I get $100 toward retirement, plus $100 a month for gas & phone.

The job is straight commission. 

The last salesperson died.

The editor, who singlehandedly runs the print and digital editions, tells me,  at our first zoom meeting that doctors estimate she has about a year left. 

It's not clear if the newspaper itself is dying. 

Since the 1990s circulation, ad sales, and readership of major newspapers has been steadily declining.  The daily ritual of waking up and reading the newspaper with morning coffee has been replaced by checking the twitter feed on your phone.

The owner of the paper assures me I can make a living if I’m willing to work hard: All I have to do is raise the money in new ad sales that will keep this newspaper afloat.

Walk away! My friends all advised.   

I'm giving it a month and here’s why: 

I suspect that local independent newspapers may be the key to building communities where we don’t have to agree or like the same things in order to belong.  

Besides, I get to do what everything in our world tries to prevent us from doing -- I get to talk to strangers. 

Stay tuned for what happens when the dream of a Community Newspaper meets reality