The message – splayed across the top of the page in bold, all caps type – is one we’ve seen around the world.

“COVID-19 IS HERE.”

In this case, however, the world is Cherokee County, Alabama and the headline is in the local newspaper, The Post Herald. Flip through the pages and instead of finding the typical church briefs and school happenings, you see stories on the latest virus statistics and how small businesses – forced to shutter by statewide orders – are coping.

Welcome to the time of coronavirus through the lens of Alabama’s weekly newspapers.

‘Challenge for sure’

It’s a time of change and uncertainty but also innovation, according to Cindy Fisher, owner and publisher of the Selma Sun, a weekly newspaper in Dallas County.

Last week “was our first to run into problems having enough photos in the paper since there are no events to cover,” Fisher said. “Next week’s edition will be a challenge for sure. One thing we’re doing to plan around the lack of events to cover is we are writing some of the more complicated investigative stories now.”

All of the Sun’s employees are working remotely– save the delivery person that switched to now only outside news boxes instead of locations insider closed stores.

While the news part of operations is evolving, the business side, which depends on local advertising, faces the most daunting challenges.

“Revenue wise, this spring was set to be great for the Selma Sun with voters registration lists to run before primary elections. Now that the runoff election has been moved, we have to adjust when to expect that revenue. We also expected to get tax delinquency lists from the city and county and the tax collectors are saying they aren’t sure if those lists will run when expected in April,” Fisher said.

Instead, the Sun is moving ahead with planned special sections as well as teaming up with a local radio station for a morning show.

“I came up with the idea last week to entertain and inform the community during this quarantine the old fashioned way, on radio, and eventually run it live on Facebook. We had a local singer songwriter on guitar play from his home and we interviewed the superintendent of Selma City Schools about homeschooling and efforts to feed students in the district,” Fisher said.

‘Slide your news under the door’

Just about every Alabama county has at least one weekly newspaper, sometimes multiple ones. They generally carry local news exclusively, serving as unofficial historians for the community by publishing things like births, weddings and deaths. Employees are typically community member themselves, taking time to do things like covering school plays, revivals and little league games.

Technology has made some of that process easier, though news often comes straight from the community itself.

In south Alabama, coronavirus has employees of the Greenville Advocate limiting days in the office and working remotely for the remainder of the time, according to Publisher Adam Prestridge. Payments or news items can be slid under the front door, Prestridge wrote recently, and staff will communicate with customers through a window.

“Imagine doing business at a bank drive-thru, and that is the approach we are taking. We will assess our office hours weekly as the public health issue continues and keep our customers informed,” Prestridge said.

In the meantime, the newspaper published an ad from local restaurants ranging from Nanny’s Fine Dining and The Court Square Café to Bates House of Turkey and the Big Potato Company with their takeout hours. The ad earned praise from readers, who thanked the newspaper via its Facebook page.

‘I truly hope y’all understand’

Stories about school closures, curfews and rising coronavirus counts are playing out at newspapers like the Demopolis Times, the Elba Clipper, the Monroe Journal and the Wetumpka Herald. In addition to stories, many of the newspapers now carry messages asking for financial support as COVID-19 cuts off advertising revenue.

The abrupt loss has consequences.

In north Alabama, Arab Tribune owner and publisher Ed Reed recently announced the twice-weekly newspaper was eliminating its Saturday edition, becoming a one-time a week publication.

“We have been publishing The Arab Tribune since March 1958, and plan to continue through these hard times keeping you, our readers, honestly informed of goings-on in Arab and on Brindlee Mountain,” Reed wrote in a recent message to readers and advertisers. “My main goal is to keep providing accurate news of our community that will benefit you, the reader. Also, I am determined to keep providing jobs and benefits to our dedicated employees.

“I truly hope y’all understand.”