Newspapers ‘Pay It Forward’

Minneapolis has been on the minds of many since the devastating events of last week. But being on people’s minds wasn’t enough for some; one newspaper took it a step further. The Roanoke Times, a Virginia newspaper, sent a snack bundle including pork rinds, cupcakes, and other “delicacies” to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press this week.

But this isn’t the first instance of this type of dogoodery among media cohorts. It appears the tradition began with the Oklahoman, which sent the Roanoke Times a similar box after the Virginia Tech massacre. The Oklahoman staff obviously understands the stresses placed upon local publications when disaster strikes an area, having lived through the Oklahoma City bombing. Looks like the Roanoke Times is just paying it forward.

—Anna Weggel