Lohud Editor Reflects on Impactful Journalism in 2024
In 2024, Lohud’s journalism made a significant impact on the community
Lohud, Rockland, Journalism, Community, Carrie Yale, 2024
Rockland: Hey there, readers of The Journal News/lohud!
2024 was quite a year for me, just like it was for many of you. I had the joy of celebrating my mom’s 95th birthday with a big party surrounded by family and friends. It was heartwarming to see her meet all five of her great-grandsons, who are all under four years old.
Oh, and I heard my 22-month-old grandson say “Grammy” for the first time! Plus, I was in Virginia for the birth of my second grandson, who looks just like my late husband. But it wasn’t all happy moments; I also had to say goodbye to my military son as he left for a six-month deployment.
At Lohud, we had a busy year in news. Today, we’re sharing a special report highlighting some of the impactful journalism we did. You’ll read about David McKay Wilson’s “Tax Watch” column, Jeanne Muchnick’s food reporting, and Peter D. Kramer’s deep dives into the Megan McDonald cold case and a tragic school bus accident in Mamaroneck. Nancy Cutler’s work even helped bring an American citizen back home to Rockland.
What else stands out from 2024? We had some big elections that grabbed attention. We covered George Latimer’s successful primary against Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Mike Lawler’s win over former Rep. Mondaire Jones, along with various issues surrounding Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
We aimed to cover topics you might chat about at home, like graduations, proms, and local sports. We also looked into how real estate trends affect home-buying and where to find the best tacos or eggplant parm in town.
We even launched a bigger, more local Sunday newspaper for those who still love the feel of print. Getting out into the community was important to us. Not long ago, Senior Editor Gary Stern, reporter Alexandra Rivera, and I met with some amazing students at Rockland Community College. They shared their interests and asked us great questions about our work, leaving us feeling inspired.
We also had to say goodbye to our talented photographer Mark Vergari, who retired after 41 years with us. You might not know him personally, but you’ve definitely seen his fantastic photos.
We were proud of four of our journalists who helped out colleagues covering the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Seth Harrison, Helu Wang, David McKay Wilson, and Tom Zambito all pitched in to support those in need.
As we look ahead to 2025, I’m committed to delivering journalism that truly makes a difference in your lives. Our biggest reward is knowing we’ve had an impact. So, I’m excited to share this report on our work in 2024 and how it affected the Lower Hudson Valley.
Before I wrap up, I’d love for you to consider subscribing to our digital or print editions.
Take care,
Carrie Yale
Executive Editor
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lohud editor Carrie Yale reviews 2024 journalism that made an impact