A legacy old as Rome

The first recognized printed newspaper is a publication titled “Relation,” published in Antwerp in 1605 under Johann Carolus. However, the first evidence of a newspaper is the “Acta Diurna,” published in Rome around 59 B.C.

Against such dates, 117 years might not seem a significant span of time to some, but that’s how long the Thermopolis Independent Record has been bringing the news of Hot Springs County to you.

The Independent Record came about when two papers — The Thermopolis Record and the Thermopolis Independent — merged. It is the official publication for the county and town.

This week marks the 78th annual National Newspaper Week, with the theme of “Journalism matters. NOW more than ever.” The phrase brings to mind the cries of “fake news” heard all across the country, and to us here at The Independent Record it means we have to strive to bring you the most accurate and relevant news we can.

It’s something we take very seriously, whether it’s in taking information for a story, designing an ad, getting a picture, even sending out a bill. Accuracy and detail in our work not only makes our product something people want to read, but if you’ve ever stopped by in our office you might notice a large part of our wall is occupied by awards received from the Wyoming Press Association.

Your newspaper has a large responsibility to keep you informed about what is happening in your community, as well as being a watchdog for governmental agencies. In election years such as this, we also have the added duty of ensuring you’re informed about your candidates before you head to the polls.

If you’re reading this, allow us to express our appreciation for your patronage. We’ve enjoyed bringing you the news for nearly 120 years, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon.