Recent Martin High School graduate Austin Marsman, whom I’ve had the please to work with and get to know over the past year, is signing off as an contributing writer for Townbroadcast.

Marsman, who certainly has made an impact on this area in only his senior year in high school, has signed on as a volunteer with the Garnet Lewis 26th District Democratic State Senate campaign. The lad defies all the stereotypes about young people these days because he is dedicated, committed and wise beyond his years.

“It (the Lewis campaign) is taking a lot of my time that I usually reserve for Townbroadcast work,” Marsman explained to me in an e-mail. “Also, as I prepare for college (Grand Valley State University), it is hard for me to focus on some of my other commitments. This being said I think it is time to step aside from the contributing news writer position.”

Marsman promised to send in some news items occasionally.

“Over the past year, I have had the honor of working as a reporter for Townbroadcast,” he said. “It has opened so many doors, broadened my horizons and helped me make connections.

“Some say journalism is a dying industry. However, I beg to differ. There will always be a need for honest people to distribute information and share facts. In an age where the terms ‘fake news’ and ‘phony media’ are being thrown out daily, we must persist. The truth will prevail, whether we like it or not. Facts and community matter.

“Thank you to my amazing editor and friend, David T. Young, and the whole crew at Townbroadcast — this is how (as the slogan says) community journalism ought to be.”

Marsman will join the staff at GVSU’s student newspaper, The Lanthorn, where Young began his journalism career 50 years ago.

COVER PHOTO: Besides being a community journalist, Austin Marsman (right) has been an activist for students protesting mass gun shootings at schools.