This is a weekly feature called Community Notebook, filled with snippets of information, conversations, and reporting about the communities where we work. Canopy Atlanta Fellows and other community residents may contribute to this weekly reporting. The Community Notebook is featured in our newsletter Voices — sign up to find this in your inbox every week.
After reading the final Sunday print edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, I’m feeling nostalgic. I went back and found my one and only op-ed published in print—“Minorities part of cycling boost”—which ran Saturday, February 28, 2015, the final Saturday print edition of Black History Month that year. The timing underscored the paper’s decision to elevate a story rooted in minority neighborhoods to its broader readership.
Seeing it again reminded me how much print journalism mattered. The piece was laid out beautifully, paired with original artwork from a SCAD artist and featured prominently at the top of the Saturday Opinion page. There was a color environmental photo that became my go-to headshot, and it marked the first public acknowledgment of my role as publisher of Our West End Newsletter by a major newspaper.
The online version—published the day before—contains the same words but carries none of the visual hierarchy or editorial weight.
What struck me most when revisiting the print version was how the layout itself carried community-rooted reporting into a broader readership. It translated the place-based journalism I was doing through Our West End Newsletter into a shared civic argument for the city, something the online version—stripped of design, placement, and shared editorial space—did not do.
As print fades, I can’t help but wonder: Where does that level of editorial care go now?
I hope this story leaves you inspired by the power of community-focused journalism. Here at Canopy Atlanta, we're driven by a unique mission: to uncover and amplify the voices and stories that often go unheard in traditional newsrooms.
Our nonprofit model allows us to prioritize meaningful journalism that truly serves the needs of our community. We're dedicated to providing you with insightful, thought-provoking stories that shed light on the issues and stories that matter most to neighborhoods across Atlanta.
By supporting our newsroom, you're not just supporting journalism – you're investing in Atlanta. Small and large donations enable us to continue our vital work of uncovering stories in underrepresented communities, stories that deserve to be told and heard.
From Bankhead to South DeKalb to Norcross, I believe in the power of our journalism and the impact it can have on our city.
If you can, please consider supporting us with a small gift today. Your support is vital to continuing our mission.
Floyd Hall, co-founder
