Delphos, Ohio, has quite a story to tell about both journalism and economic development. Blade reporter James Trumm captured both aspects well in a front page Sunday story on a change in ownership of the iconic Delphos Herald building. (“Still grabbing headlines,” Sunday)
An enormous mural on the side of the building establishes the newspaper as a major presence downtown in a time when communities of similar size to Delphos are becoming known as news deserts for the lack of local newspapers.
That’s not the case in Delphos, where the local paper and papers serving Ada, Paulding, Van Wert, and Putnam County flourish. There is a strong connection between local media and community prosperity.
Reporter Trumm detailed the increased costs across the country in communities without local news coverage. The Journal of Financial Economics posits that borrowing costs for civic projects rise because potential lenders find it difficult to evaluate the quality of community projects and the capability of the leaders behind the projects.
Community engagement is the other big loss when a small-town newspaper stops publishing. Delphos is a good place to study the economic development success that originates from engaged citizens.
The Herald newspaper building was purchased by local printing company owners Brian and Michele Altenburger out of love for the location and the history of the structure. Affinity for Delphos is behind other crucial investments detailed by Mr. Trumm and the overall vibrancy of occupied storefronts brightened by fresh paint.
“Some of the buildings on Main Street were in very poor condition so we decided to buy them, remove them, and then figure out what to do with the lots” said Delphos business owner Ken Langhals. Mr. Langhals, along with Delphos business owners Donald Miller and Keith Pohlman, poured their own money into maintaining downtown through a combination of new and rehabbed buildings.
Delphos claims to be “America’s friendliest city.” Of course that’s unmeasurable but it asserts a goal of connectedness that clearly supports both the local newspaper and downtown development in a way many communities across the country would envy.
The link between local journalism and community development is little known and understood. The story of Delphos should be widely told to illustrate this important connection.
First Published March 15, 2025, 4:00 a.m.
