For ten years now, the Voice of Nosara (VON) has been serving Nosara and the surrounding communities with the goal of connecting and uniting people—not just people in different towns but people of different backgrounds, nationalities and languages.

At first, the newspaper was more of a newsletter, printed on letter-size paper and stapled together. But even that simple newsletter served an important purpose: dispelling rumors and providing correct information (well, as correct as possible) so that people in Nosara and nearby communities could be well informed about everything from local happenings to major controversies.

Since those early years, the Voice of Nosara has developed into a full-scale bilingual monthly newspaper, reaching out to communities around the entire Nicoya canton—incorporating news from the districts of Samara and Nicoya as well. In an era when newspapers are feeling the crunch of changing times and economic stress, when even a journalistic giant like the Tico Times recently stopped publishing their print edition in favor of their online presence, the Voice of Nosara’s print edition is going strong, with the support of many local businesses and advertisers.

But we know times are changing. That’s why we’re also working hard to improve our online edition, regularly posting the latest news (so you don’t have to wait a full month to read about what’s going on). We’re currently working on a new design for the website, to debut shortly, which will provide ever-expanding coverage of the news most pertinent to those of us who live in and love Guanacaste.

In addition, we have a strong presence on the popular Facebook network, where you can comment on news postings, let us know what you like, ask questions to clarify details about news items or participate in a stimulating conversation with other VON readers.

Not yet following us online? We invite you to do so and let us hear your voices.

All of these different tools share one crucial goal: promoting good communication.

Good communication is the bedrock of any strong relationship, of the success of any group or organization. The current staff of VON is committed to being a part of that growth, promoting Nosara, Samara and Nicoya as they develop into ever-more thriving communities. We’re working hard to investigate and report the information you most need to keep up on what’s happening and thus make informed decisions—such as changes in national laws, municipal projects and your truly local news, along with upcoming events and activities in which you might want to participate. While we love to report happy community news, neither do we shy away from the difficult, delicate or controversial. Our goal always, unlike some media, is to present information as fairly and honestly as possible, without sensationalizing or inventing. We do our best to make sure our sources are reliable and to verify facts so that you can trust what you read in VON.

While none of the original members of the VON staff remain, those of us now on the team are honored to have inherited the privilege and responsibility of serving you, our readers. Although there may be days when people aren’t so pleased with something that we report, overall it is a fun and fulfilling job, getting out there and interacting with people in the local communities and giving voice to your concerns.

Many readers have commented that having a quality local newspaper is one of the things that makes this a great place to live, and we are committed to providing that service to the community for many years to come.

To achieve this, we need your help through what is now known as “citizen journalism”, so we welcome your feedback and news tips.

We also invite you to attend one of our free upcoming two-hour classes so that you can better understand the job of a journalist. And please, don’t be shy. Share with us your ideas, concerns, opinions, photos and writing. Lend us your voices so that we can continue serving as the Voice of the local communities.

Source: VoiceOfNosara.com