Our Current Values

At The Current, we believe local news still matters.

Not outrage for clicks.
Not gossip disguised as journalism.
Not chasing national narratives that have nothing to do with the people living here.

We believe communities deserve coverage that is local, factual, thoughtful, and rooted in real life.

We believe small businesses deserve visibility.
We believe local government should be understandable.
We believe accomplishments should be celebrated.
We believe difficult conversations can happen without tearing each other apart.
We believe people are smarter than algorithms give them credit for.

We also believe trust matters.

That means we try to verify information before publishing it.
We try to correct mistakes when they happen.
We try to separate fact from assumption.
We try to present issues in a way everyday people can actually understand — not just people already deep in politics, policy, or social media arguments.

And yes — we are imperfect humans doing this work in real time.

We won’t always know everything immediately.
We won’t cover every event.
We won’t make every single person happy.
Frankly, if everyone agreed with everything we posted, we’d probably be doing something wrong.

But our goal has never been perfection.

Our goal is to build something genuinely useful for this community:
A place where local businesses can grow.
A place where people can stay informed.
A place where community stories are preserved.
A place where Geneseo and the surrounding area are treated like they matter — because they do.

At the end of the day, The Current exists because this community continues to support it, read it, share it, challenge it, contribute to it, and believe in it.

And for that, we’re grateful every single day.

From the Team: On Media & Political Affiliation

There’s a growing assumption that every media outlet must belong to a political side.

We don’t. In fact, our team is comprised of individuals on both sides of the aisle.

And we don’t believe a political affiliation is required to do this work well.

Our role is to inform, explain, and document what’s happening in our community. That means asking questions, sharing verified information, and helping people understand decisions, systems, and impacts.

Not telling you what to think.

Not filtering everything through a political lens.

Not picking a team.

We know people bring their own perspectives when they read, watch, or engage with content. That’s normal—and healthy in a community. But our responsibility is to provide information you can trust, not opinions you’re expected to adopt.

You’ll see us:
– Cover local government, schools, and community issues
– Break down complex topics into clear, accessible information
– Share updates that matter to daily life in Geneseo

You won’t see us:
– Endorsing candidates
– Pushing political agendas
– Framing every story as “left vs. right”

That doesn’t mean difficult topics are off the table. It means we approach them with care, verification, and a focus on facts—not noise.

Media doesn’t have to be political to be valuable.

In fact, we think our community is better served when it’s not.

— The Team at The Geneseo Current

How to Get Your Story in The Geneseo Current (And What to Expect)

We love sharing what’s happening in Geneseo. That’s the whole point of what we do.

But not everything sent to us is something we can publish—and we know that can be confusing if you’re not sure how we make those decisions.

So here’s a straightforward look at how it works, what we’re looking for, and how to give your story the best shot at being featured.

News vs. Promotion: What’s the Difference?

This is the biggest point of confusion.

News is content that:

  • Has a clear impact on the community

  • Serves the public interest

  • Is informational in nature

Think: updates, milestones, events that matter beyond a single business.

Promotion, on the other hand, is content that:

  • Focuses on sales, specials, or offers

  • Is tied directly to a business

  • Is meant to drive customers or revenue

Both are valuable—but they are not the same thing, and they’re handled differently.

For-Profit Businesses & Free Marketing

If your submission:

  • Is hosted by a for-profit business

  • Involves selling a product or service

  • Is designed to bring in customers

…it falls under paid promotion.

We don’t offer that for free. And that’s intentional.

We have businesses that invest in advertising with us, and offering free promotion for others wouldn’t be fair to them.

What We DO Cover

We’re always open to content that serves the community, including:

  • Nonprofit and community events

  • Local milestones and achievements

  • Public-interest updates

  • Local or regional stories that inform or impact Geneseo

If it matters to the community, we want to hear about it.

What We DON’T Share

To keep things fair, accurate, and valuable to readers, we don’t publish:

  • Free advertising for businesses

  • Press releases from businesses that are not paying sponsors

  • “Post this for me” submissions with no context

  • Personal complaints or call-outs

  • Unverified claims or rumors

We’re not a public forum—we’re a media platform. That means we have to stand behind what we publish.

What Makes a Strong Submission

Want a better chance of being featured? Make it easy for us.

Include:

  • Who, what, when, and where

  • Why it matters to the community

  • Clear photos (with photo credit and names, if possible)

  • Contact information in case we need to follow up

The more complete your submission is, the faster we can evaluate it.

Timing Matters

News has a shelf life.

Here’s what helps:

  • Send events at least 1–2 weeks in advance

  • Send recaps within 24–48 hours

  • Share time-sensitive information as soon as possible

Late submissions often mean missed opportunities.

How to Submit

Send your story to:
info@geneseocurrent.com

Please do not send submissions through Facebook or Instagram—those often get missed or lost.

We review everything, but not everything gets published.

What Happens Next

Here’s what you can expect:

  • We review every submission

  • We may edit for clarity or length

  • Not everything will be published

  • We’ll follow up if we need more information

Final Thought

If it matters to Geneseo, it matters to us.

We’re here to highlight the people, places, and stories that make this community what it is—we just have to do it in a way that’s fair, accurate, and sustainable.

Have something worth sharing?

Send it our way.

Creating Space for Conversation—Not Conflict

At its best, this community is thoughtful, engaged, and willing to wrestle with important ideas. That’s something we value deeply—and something we’re committed to protecting.

We also know that when people speak up—especially to share concerns, frustrations, or criticism—that matters. We are here for our audience. Your voices are a vital part of this space, and we don’t take that lightly.

At the same time, we’ve all seen how quickly online conversations can shift from meaningful discussion into something less productive. Personal attacks, hostility, and noise can take over—and when that happens, it pushes people out rather than inviting them in.

We want to be clear about where we stand.

We are not here to censor.
But we are also not here to host a shouting match.

When we made the decision to turn off comments previously, we know it struck a nerve—not just with readers, but within our own office. Our team represents a wide range of perspectives, and there was no single, unified stance. There was real disagreement.

We think that’s worth acknowledging—because it reflects the kind of community we are: not one voice, but many.

That’s exactly why we will be keeping space open for conversation.

But that space needs boundaries.

What We Support

We welcome:

  • Thoughtful disagreement

  • Constructive criticism

  • Strong, well-expressed opinions

You don’t have to agree with us—or with each other—to be part of this community.

Disagreement is welcome. Disrespect isn’t.

What We Will Not Host

Moving forward, while we won’t shut off comments entirely, we will remove comments that cross a clear line, including:

  • Personal attacks

  • Hate or discriminatory language

  • Spam or bad-faith disruption

We won’t remove comments simply because they are critical or unpopular. But we will step in when the tone or intent undermines the kind of space we are trying to maintain.

A New Option: Letters to the Editor

Some conversations deserve more space than a comment thread allows.

We’re introducing a Letters to the Editor option to give readers a place to share more thoughtful, in-depth perspectives—within a clear set of guidelines. More details on how to submit will be shared soon.

The Kind of Community We’re Building

We see this space as a community forum. We are hosting it—lending the microphone—but the conversation belongs to all of us.

Our goal is to strike a balance: protecting open expression while also creating and maintaining a space that people actually want to stay in.

Because ultimately, this isn’t just about what gets said. It’s about whether people feel comfortable showing up, participating, and being heard.

We appreciate those of you who already do that with thoughtfulness and respect. You’re helping shape what this community can be.

And as we move forward, we’re asking everyone to be part of that effort.

UPDATED: Why We Moderate Comments

UPDATE

The suggestion of censorship has spurred valuable conversation in our office. We will no longer be shutting comments off. However, we will moderate for constructive conversation. Unverified accusations and personal attacks will be removed.

———————————————————————————-

ORIGINAL

We believe open conversation matters—and we know our community has a wide range of perspectives. That’s a good thing. Thoughtful, respectful discussion helps everyone better understand what’s happening and why it matters.

We welcome productive conversation on our posts, and we do not turn off comments lightly. In most cases, comments remain open so people can ask questions, share perspectives, and engage with the information.

However, when discussion begins to shift away from constructive dialogue—particularly when it turns into personal attacks, hostility, or unproductive back-and-forth—we may choose to turn comments off. That decision is made to protect the overall quality of the conversation and keep the focus on clear, useful information for the broader community.

Our goal is not to limit viewpoints, but to ensure the space remains one where people can engage meaningfully.

We always welcome thoughtful feedback and conversation through messages, email, or in person.

Thank you for being part of this community.

We Can’t Cover What We Don’t Know

We know more is happening in our schools and community than we’re seeing.

Clubs. Fundraisers. Service projects. Performances. Guest speakers. Team wins. Student initiatives.

But we can’t cover what we don’t know about.

If you’re a school club adviser, coach, nonprofit leader, or event organizer — please send us what’s coming up. Dates, details, photos, flyers, goals. Let us know early whenever possible.

We can’t promise coverage of everything. But knowing about it is the first step.

Also — a quick clarification:

📣 Event promotion (coordinated marketing, boosted visibility, paid placement, sponsored posts, etc.) is different from editorial coverage.

Promotion is structured advertising support.
Coverage is independent reporting or recap.

Both serve the community. They just operate differently.

If you want your event seen, tell us.
If you want help promoting it strategically, we can do that too.

But silence guarantees nothing.

Send it. Let’s build this together.

Email info@geneseocurrent.com.

From The Current Team: A Website Update

We’re working behind the scenes on an exciting update to The Current — and we wanted to give you a quick heads-up.

Based on feedback from our readers and our advertisers, we’re combining The Current website with The Current Exchange / Classifieds into one streamlined experience. The goal is simple: easier navigation, fewer clicks, and everything you’re looking for in one place — local news, sports, events, business listings, and community content.

Over the next two weeks, you may notice short, temporary outages while we complete maintenance and migration work. These interruptions should be brief, and we appreciate your patience while we make improvements that will benefit the whole community long-term.

We’re grateful for the feedback that helped guide this decision, and we’re excited to share the refreshed experience with you very soon.

Thanks for sticking with us — more to come.

The Geneseo Current Donates $500 to Geneseo Police Department’s IMPACT Team from Senior Expo Proceeds

The Geneseo Current is proud to announce a $500 donation to the Geneseo Police Department’s IMPACT Team, made possible through proceeds from the 2025 Senior Expo.

The Senior Expo—hosted annually to connect older adults with resources, services, and local organizations—saw strong community participation again this year. As part of The Current’s ongoing mission to support programs that strengthen safety, wellbeing, and quality of life in Geneseo, a portion of event proceeds was set aside to benefit a community partner making a meaningful impact.

Pictured from left to right: Officer Amber Berthoud, Dalcon DeMaranville, and Officer Jamie Shoemaker

“The IMPACT Team is doing important work supporting residents and responding to community needs with care and professionalism,” said Dalcon DeMaranville of The Geneseo Current. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to give back and help fund the resources that make Geneseo such a safe and supportive place to live.”

The IMPACT Team focuses on connecting individuals and families with services related to mental health, social support, crisis response, and community outreach. The donation will help bolster these efforts and assist the department as it continues expanding programs serving Geneseo residents.

“We appreciate the support from The Geneseo Current and the Senior Expo,” said Officer Amber Berthoud. “Community partnerships like this help us better serve our neighbors and meet the needs we see every day.”

The Geneseo Current extends its sincere thanks to all Senior Expo vendors, attendees, and sponsors whose participation directly enabled this contribution.

For more information about The Geneseo Current or future community events, visit geneseocurrent.com or contact The Current at info@geneseocurrent.com.

From Kickoff to Community

As the Green Machine gets ready to take on the Bombers this weekend, we’re reminded how much this town loves to rally together — not just for the big game, but for one another all year long.

At The Current, that same team spirit drives what we do. We’ve asked for your feedback, made some changes, and are always open to new ideas or constructive criticism. Our goal is simple: to keep celebrating the people, places, and events that make Geneseo proud — on the field and beyond it.

So, whether you’re bundled up in the stands or cheering from home, we’ll be right there with you. Go Green Machine! 💚💛

— The Current Team

From the Team: Our Approach to Political Events

The Current has received several messages and press releases encouraging coverage of the recent No Kings protest. We appreciate the community’s engagement and understand that local residents have a range of perspectives on this topic.

However, The Current’s focus has always been on celebrating the people, places, and events in Geneseo. Our mission is to highlight the stories that bring our community together—businesses, events, sports, and features that strengthen Geneseo and the surrounding area.

Because the No Kings protest centers on broader national political issues rather than community-specific matters, we have chosen not to cover it. This decision reflects our commitment to remaining non-partisan and avoiding commentary on national movements or debates.

Our goal is, and will continue to be, to keep The Current a trusted, welcoming source for local news that unites rather than divides.

Public Notices for the Public Good

It’s Time to Modernize Illinois’ Public Notice Laws

Illinois law still requires public notices — city meetings, bids, ordinances, and budgets — to be printed in newspapers.
But what happens when those newspapers no longer reach the public they’re meant to serve?

Here in Geneseo, the so-called “local paper” is gone, and the county publication reaches only a few hundred subscribers.
Meanwhile, The Geneseo Current connects with more people in a single day online than those legacy papers reach all year in print — over one million monthly impressions from real, local readers.

That’s what public really means.

Outdated laws shouldn’t stand in the way of transparency. It’s time for Illinois to recognize digital, community-based platforms as the modern public square — where information is:
✅ Free to access
📱 Searchable and shareable
🌎 Truly public

Public notices belong where the public actually is — online, in the open, and accessible to everyone.

Join us in calling on legislators to bring Illinois’ public notice laws into the digital age.

Sign the Petition