One of the most eternal struggles we face as a newspaper is getting people to get past headlines. This is not a recent phenomenon, though we would be lying if we ignored the impact social media has had on it.

For print journalism especially, we cannot fully express every detail you need to know on a subject in a headline — let alone a condensed headline that must fit in a somewhat reasonable manner on a physical layout.

This happens incessantly. It happens with national stories. It happens with state-wide stories. It happens, most frustratingly, with local stories.

We have noted previously that, as a newspaper, we are at our best when we are informing and educating an interested and engaged readership. There is no better time to revisit this than during Sunshine Week — a week every year in March that celebrates Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law and Sunshine Act. If you haven’t read the column directly above this one, by Joyce Davis, we would encourage you to do so.

You see, many of the subjects that we report on are dense with information, and — especially for local content — we focus around content which could directly affect you, the reader.

Consider, as but one recent example, the story in yesterday’s edition about the city of Lock Haven hiring a firm to study and rewrite city ordinances:

(Cyndi) Walker backed up Wilson’s example, emphasizing that “tiny homes” aren’t currently allowed to be built within the city. Neither are in-law suites on lots that don’t already have a secondary building.

“Because at the time when we put it in place in 2008 these options didn’t exist. For example, tiny homes. They’re totally prohibited within the city because we make no allowance for that type of structure,” she said.

If you are a Lock Haven resident, or are looking to move to the city, this is a subject which impacts you. But, if you only skim the headlines, you’d miss out on it.

We understand that this level of engagement can be a challenge in today’s fast-paced world. It’s difficult enough to take time out to read for fun — let alone to read about, let’s face it, less-than-fun things like local government.

However, we would argue that, if you can at all manage to read beyond the headlines, you would find it rewarding — both because you would have a better understanding of the community within which you live and work; and also because, by being better educated about local affairs, you can make better choices about subjects ranging from where to send your kids, where to shop, who to ask about local concerns and how a vast myriad of local, state and national actions could impact you and those you care for.

We are a resource, and we like to think that we can be a valuable one. But, like any resource, we are only as useful as the effort you put in.