Onward and upward for The Riverdale Press

Stepping into a leadership position at a paper with as storied a history as The Riverdale Press is no small task. The weight of this responsibility is one I’m honored to shoulder, and one I’m aware of each day.

Like many local papers, The Press has undergone myriad changes in recent years. One of the most noticeable to readers has likely been shifts in staffing, including the numerous editors who have held this post before me in a rather short period of time. Because of this, I think it is worth taking this moment to outline my vision and priorities for this esteemed paper — the first of which is to make every effort to offer the paper, its reporters and its readers some stability.

I come to The Press with a background spanning in-depth print news and rapid-fire digital news. I carry a deep gratitude for these experiences, as vastly different as they are, because they have each shown me the unique merits and challenges of different newsgathering approaches. My hope is to take the strengths I have seen from these other local publications and combine them with the many strengths already present at The Press to help it adapt to this unique moment in the media landscape.

One of my primary areas of knowledge and focus lies in breaking news. A few readers have reached out to remark upon the breaking news content that The Press’ reporters so diligently reported last week. I urge those readers and others to keep an eye on that coverage, as I aim to continue and bolster it so our community knows what is happening, when it is happening.

I also recognize that, despite the many varying opinions that surround social media, it has become essential to the modern information ecosystem. With that in mind, our newsroom is working to reinvigorate our social media presence. By sharing our stories on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, we can not only get more eyes on the work we proudly pursue, but also connect with our community in new and exciting ways.

Of course, breaking news and social media content will not replace the fundamentals of what has made this paper so great for so many years. A prime benefit of weekly news is the time, space and depth it allows certain stories to benefit from. Long-form, community-based reporting continues to remain central to The Press’ work.

Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention my goal of getting to know the residents that make our corner of the Bronx so special. As I continue to get settled in this new city and position, I hope to become a familiar and friendly face. To those neighbors whom I have already had the pleasure of speaking with, your warm welcomes and enthusiasm has made me feel quickly at home.

I’m looking forward to learning and growing alongside the talented young reporters at this paper. We hope to make our readers proud. You deserve news you can rely on and trust. That sentiment will continue to be our driving force every day.

Alexa Lewis is the new editor-in-chief of The Riverdale Press.