National news headlines might dominate our daily consciousness, but Lisa Simpson knows hyperlocal journalism is the heartbeat of Arizona communities like Maricopa.

As senior vice president of the Arizona Media Association, and with more than 40 years in print media, Simpson has seen firsthand how vital local news is to civic life.

“Hyperlocal news covers the small communities — or the communities within a community,” Simpson said. “You want to know what’s going on at your local school board, what is your local city council doing, what taxes are they voting on, what is your local police department doing?”

Hyperlocal news answers those questions, she said.

Her comments come as National Newspaper Week begins. The weeklong observance celebrates the newspaper industry across the U.S. and Canada.

Access to a hometown paper — or a trusted local news website — remains essential not only for sharing feel-good stories and sparking meaningful conversations, but also for holding those in power accountable.

“The local newspapers are what provides the government watchdog services,” Simpson said. “They’re the ones that help drive community conversation and shape what the future of our communities looks like. Without those very important media outlets providing that service, we could be in a tough situation.”

InMaricopa publisher Scott Bartle agreed, noting that local journalism connects neighbors to the decisions that affect their daily lives.

“Our job is to make sure Maricopa residents know what’s happening in their own backyard — not from rumor, but from facts,” Bartle said. “Local journalism builds informed citizens, and informed citizens build stronger communities.”

Despite challenges such as shrinking newsrooms and trust in mass media at an all-time low, Simpson said she believes people are rediscovering the value of local reporting.

“People are coming back to understanding what a good, local trusted news source is,” she said. “You know, I love to see what my neighbors are doing on Facebook, but I know if I refer to my local newspaper, there’s a trusted local news source that that’s going to be able to tell me what’s really going on.”