Jackson Free Press

In this issue focusing on the best of our city, you will read a lot about innovation, teamwork and building alliances—as well as about a number of candidates wanting to represents parts of the city in the state Senate.

In the decade we have published the Jackson Free Press and now BOOM Jackson magazine, we've watched the city come a long way on the think-positive front. When the JFP first launched in 2002—with the city's first Best of Jackson ballot in our very first issue—we were determined to tell true stories about a metropolitan area steeped in negativity and division and in which perceptions about out-of-control crime were spread by people claiming to have the city's best interests at heart.

We came out of the gate swinging about two things: (1) the city's need to challenge dumb negative perceptions and (2) city residents' need to really question its leaders, not in a destructive political way but with the goal of helping them serve us better.

Helped along by the results of a disastrous mayoral term—Frank Melton, of course—the city has really started to come together against division and to stand up for itself. When we launched, we saw young people leaving the city in droves; now we watch them stay, or leave and come back after they can't quite find the same mix of delightful people and world-changing potential in the great yonder.

We've chronicled so many positive changes, and every week for going on 11 years, we've written stories about below-the-radar people doing amazing things in the city and its suburbs—that's hundreds of Jacksonian profiles along with dishes, JFP interviews, Best of Jackson blurbs, features and so on. Not to mention, the People of the Day we now anoint five days a week at jfpdaily.com. (Subscribe free for breaking news and cool event and party invites, like future Best of Jackson parties.)

This doesn't mean we pull needed punches or fail to ask questions that need to be asked. Anyone who reads the JFP knows that. But we don't ask questions and expose corruption in order to beat anyone, or the city, up. We don't do any journalism to sing the praises of one political candidate over the other or tear down anyone. We report—on the positive and the problems—to make the city better.

We urge our readers to do, and demand, the same. In a city where few difficult questions have traditionally been asked by any media outlet, we all need to ask many questions. We need to demand facts, insist on transparency, study campaign finance reports and demand high standards from each other and our elected officials.

But that doesn't mean we get offended because someone disagrees. Think of Abraham Lincoln and his "team of rivals." Lincoln surrounded himself with people who could, and would, challenge his thinking and ideas—not people bent on tearing him down. As a result, ultimately, slavery ended.

We can do big things, too—not by tearing down good efforts, but by getting involved to help fix them and, thus, our city. Ignore those who play negative politics over every issue (especially crime) and elect people who tell us what they will do better, and who show they can build uncomfortable alliances—not just shoot down their opponents. And you? Be the change we want to see. Be the best and demand the same. We've got this, Jackson.