We’re here for you. We've been here since Pierce County was not quite a teenager.
The Blackshear Times, now 156 years old — but new every issue, first rolled off the press when Pierce County was 12 years old.
This week is National Newspaper Week and the theme for this year’s celebration is “Embracing Local Journalism for a Better Future”.
We thank you for embracing us, supporting us by buying subscriptions and ads and reading The Times and for welcoming us into your home every week.
We thank you for embracing us, because we embrace all things Pierce County.
We were here to help you through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
We informed you about plans for a crypto mining facility and plans for migrant worker housing and what’s going on at the library. We’ve tried to do so by telling both sides of the story. We always want to be fair.
With your help, we helped to feed the hungry through our Empty Stocking Fund and to care for our animal friends by your donations to the animal shelter.
This year, the Georgia Press Association recognized our efforts and we won a statewide award for general excellence.
We can’t do that without you. We work hard to bring you the news each week, to tell you the story, our story. We won’t always see eye to eye, but we will be your eyes, your ears and your voice.
For 156 years and counting, we have brought you the local stories about county commission votes, school board decisions, city council debates, neighborhood events, local heroes, features and recreation and Bears athletics. No one else is going to tell these stories. No one embraces you like we do.
There are some pretenders. One is camped out in the land of make believe. The other never checks a single source. Neither consistently cover all aspects of Pierce County life every week. We do.
In a world increasingly shaped by global headlines and social media noise, your local newspaper is vital for civic engagement, accountability and community success.
Our goals are simple.
The Times wants to: Inform Citizens: Local reporting empowers people with the information they need to make decisions in their everyday lives—from voting to attending town hall meetings.
Accountability: Local journalists often serve as watchdogs, uncovering corruption or negligence that directly impacts their communities.
Community Connection: Local news fosters a sense of belonging by highlighting stories that resonate on a personal level.
Economic Development: Thriving local media can support small businesses through advertising and partnerships, strengthening the local economy.
To build a better future, we humbly ask for your support. We need you and rest assured, we appreciate you. We need you to subscribe, we need you to share stories and news tips and we need you to tell us what you like and what we could do better. Schools, libraries and civic groups can also play a role in educating the next generation about media literacy and the importance of a free press.
You can count on us to be fair, accurate and trust worthy with all the news that is news in Pierce County.
We count on you to keep us growing and thriving. We’re here for you every step of the way.
