For the Record Screens at Lyric Theater
FLATONIA — The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas will host a free screening of the acclaimed documentary For the Record on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m. at the Lyric Theater at 120 East South Main St. in Flatonia. The event includes a post-screening panel discussion with local newspaper editors and publishers about the future of community journalism.
For the Record offers an intimate 35-minute look inside The Canadian Record, a century-old newspaper serving Canadian, a Texas panhandle town about the size of Schulenburg. The documentary chronicles how this family-owned, small-town publication confronted growing economic challenges and a rapidly changing media environment before ultimately deciding to cease printing. This screening comes at a crucial time when many small-town newspapers face similar challenges to those depicted in the film; more than 2,500 local newspapers have disappeared since 2005, leaving one in five Americans living in 'news deserts' without access to local reporting. 'This film serves as both a warning and a call to action,' says League President Janis Richardson.
'When a local newspaper closes, communities lose their watchdog, their connector, and often their sense of identity. The Canadian Record's story illustrates what's at stake - and why it's so important to preserve these vital institutions.'
The post-screening panel discussion will explore practical solutions for sustaining independent local journalism, including ways community members can support their local news organizations.
This event aligns with the League's mission of promoting informed civic engagement across its five-county service area (Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales and Lavaca counties).
Since its founding in 2018, the League of Women Voters of South Central Texas has operated as a nonpartisan, volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicat ed to strengthening democracy through citizen participation.
The screening and panel discussion are free and open to the public. No registration required. For information, contact Janis Richardson, at president@lwvsouthcentraltx. org or 361-7723228.
