The Journal Star soon will be sold to new owners.

What this means for you is that some of what you've come to expect when you pick up the paper -- in-depth reporting on your children's schools, your neighborhood crime, your community leaders -- could be scaled back or eliminated entirely.

Newspapers across the nation are suffering major blows as new owners move in and cut staff and other resources necessary to continue supplying readers with the news, features, commentary and community information they've come to enjoy and rely upon.

The Peoria Newspaper Guild, a union that represents the reporters, photographers, designers, copy editors, artists and other professionals who work to deliver a quality product to your doorstep each day, has launched a community campaign to send a message to current and any potential future owners that we intend to preserve the high level of journalism this community deserves.

We are asking for your support.

Please take a moment to read our community statement and sign our online petition. Share your thoughts on why this newspaper is important to you. We also encourage you to send letters directly to our current owner, David Copley, as well as to our interim publisher, Ken Mauser, and our Forum page. Tell them why it's vital that the newspaper maintain a strong local commitment.