In an era where synthetic content, social media rumours and digital disinformation can spread within seconds, knowing what is true and what is not has become increasingly difficult.

For Lucky Thusi, News Editor at Southern Courier, this is precisely why responsible local journalism matters.

For him, journalism is not simply about being first to publish a headline. It is about being accurate, fair and accountable to the community – and understanding that every story carries a responsibility to the people whose lives and experiences are represented in its pages.

“Reporting local news requires care, rigour and responsibility. There is a human element to journalism that cannot simply be replaced by an automated system or an algorithm,” says Thusi.

At the heart of his approach is verification. Before a story reaches readers, whether in print or online, information must be carefully checked. Sources are scrutinised, documents are cross-referenced, facts are confirmed and, where necessary, questions are asked again.

It is a process that may take time, but Thusi believes accuracy cannot be sacrificed for speed. “Verification is our non-negotiable standard. We have a responsibility to make sure that what we publish is supported by facts and that our readers can trust the information we give them,” he says.

That responsibility becomes particularly important in local journalism, where stories often have a direct and immediate impact on the community. From municipal decisions and service delivery issues to crime, education, community development, local businesses, schools and the achievements of residents, the Southern Courier covers issues that matter to people in their everyday lives.

Behind every published story is therefore a process that requires more than simply gathering information. It requires listening to people, understanding the context, asking difficult questions and giving those affected an opportunity to have their voices heard.

For Thusi, care is an essential part of that process.

Care means understanding that behind every statistic is a person, behind every community complaint is a lived experience and behind every public official’s statement is information that may need to be tested against the facts.

Rigour means not accepting information at face value.

Responsibility means recognising the power of the published word and using it carefully.

And truth remains the foundation on which all three depend.

This approach is particularly relevant as newsrooms navigate an increasingly complicated information environment. Social media has made it easier for communities to share information and for journalists to identify emerging stories, but it has also created new challenges around rumours, manipulated content and unverified claims. For local journalists, the answer is not to retreat from the digital world, but to apply stronger journalistic standards within it.

“Readers deserve journalism that has been checked, questioned and produced with care. Our job is to provide information that helps people understand what is happening in their own communities,” says Thusi.

The impact of such journalism extends beyond individual stories. Local newspapers can play an important role in holding authorities and institutions accountable, bringing community concerns into the public domain and ensuring that issues affecting residents are not overlooked.

At the same time, local journalism celebrates the achievements of ordinary people – learners, educators, community organisations, sporting teams, businesses, volunteers and residents whose stories might otherwise receive little attention.

It is this combination of accountability and community connection that gives local journalism its value. As the world marks World News Day 2026 under the global theme ‘Choose Truth’, the message is particularly significant for community newspapers.

For Southern Courier, being part of the Caxton network means contributing to a broader commitment to credible and independent journalism in South Africa. Through its connection with the wider journalism community, including international organisations such as WAN-IFRA, the publication remains part of the ongoing effort to protect information integrity.

But ultimately, trust is built one story at a time. It is built when a journalist checks the facts before publishing, when a source is treated fairly, when an allegation is not presented as fact and when a community knows that its local newspaper takes its responsibility seriously. “Trust is not manufactured; it is earned,” says Thusi.

In a world where information can be created, altered and shared almost instantly, that trust has never been more important.

For the Southern Courier, choosing truth means choosing care, rigour and responsibility – and ensuring that every byline carries a commitment to journalism that serves the community.