Woody Loden perhaps inadvertently validated the newspaper’s role in the community at Tuesday’s meeting of Batesville’s mayor and aldermen when he made several references to The Panolian’s stories about a proposed ordinance under consideration by city officials that would restrict sales of privately-owned vehicles from commercial parking lots.

(A report of Loden’s visit can be found on page A3.)

Loden was there to object to additional restrictions on what he views as a legitimate use of his own property, but the point is that he learned about the pending ordinance from the newspaper story. Like most people whose lives are impacted by the decisions made by city officials at their meetings, the commercial property owner who spends considerable time in Batesville managing properties does not have the time to attend each meeting. (Tuesday afternoon’s meeting lasted over three hours).

That’s why we are there.

That’s why we are also at meetings of the board of supervisors, the city planning commission and county land use commission and at meetings of municipal governments in Sardis, Como and Crenshaw. We are there as your representatives because very few people can take time from work or other busy schedules to attend public meetings.

When we write our stories about these meetings, we ask ourselves, from the reader’s perspective, “What is in it for me? What most affects me?”

Do you remember news reports last summer that told the story of the California town that finally ousted its public officials after it was revealed that they were exorbitantly overpaid? Bell, California Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo was making $787,637 annually, the assistant city manager was making $376,388 a year and the police chief was making $457,000.

How could that happen? One reason is that no reporter attended meetings of their city council. There are over 40 municipal governments operating in The Los Angeles Times circulation area. Even that large metropolitan daily does not have enough reporters to cover all of those meetings.

The public outcry that finally resulted in the ouster of public officials in Bell arose after the Times dug in and published stories about the salaries the Bell officials had awarded themselves.

That’s an extreme example, but the point is that all governments bear watching and if you can’t be there yourself, we’re there as your watchdog.

There’s a flip side to this that, if you’ve read this far, you’ve been suspecting where I’m heading. It takes money.

Newspaper advertising pays for most of this. And it’s no secret that newspaper advertising has been declining due to forces in the economy and also competitive pressures. There’s also a misconception, promulgated with thinly disguised glee by some in the electronic media, that all newspaper readership is down, and it’s just not the truth.

One readership study after another proves that readership of local, community newspapers is strong. (We observe anecdotal demonstration of this intense readership each week with the number of calls we receive from people who have been arrested and worry about their names appearing in the weekly arrest report. In 10-point type or smaller. Inside a story that’s not even close to the front page.)

To continue as your community watchdog, we need your advertising support. It’s that simple. Use it or lose it.

We’re not asking for a donation. We’re asking you to place your advertisement where the greatest focus of local attention is concentrated — on these pages. As a bonus, you will also help underwrite news coverage of events that influenced your past and affect your present and future. It is a symbiotic relationship.

On these pages, Woody Loden learned of developments that could impact his business. Also on these pages, the supporters of the measures that Loden opposes will learn more about his objections and the March 15 meeting where both sides’ concerns will be aired as the mayor and aldermen work toward a compromise.

Should be interesting. If you can’t come we’ll be there for you.