Evan Brandt, one of the last – if not the last – remaining reporter covering Pottstown, continues chronicling his town through good times and bad, writes Dan Barry for The New York Times.

Brandt has seen his newspaper, The Mercury, wither under a hedge fund and his entire industry falling into disarray even before the coronavirus pandemic.

But he still ensures to cover Pottstown daily by publishing essential information, holding officials accountable, and marking the special moments.

By doing this, he continues to provide the essential service that can only be delivered by local – usually overworked and underpaid – reporters.

The Mercury’s reporters have been giving voice to Pottstown for nearly nine decades, following the small town as it rose, fell, and rose again.

During that time they have covered stories small and large, including “crime of the decade”: the murder of a millionaire developer in the early 1980s.

However despite all the cuts and the loss of the newspaper’s building, Brandt still refuses to hang up his mantle.

“I think of it as a calling, the same way that some people are called to the priesthood,” he said.

Read more about Pottstown at The New York Times by clicking here.

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