Is the case for “saving” newspapers overstated? Will democracy, justice and civic discourse really crumble without them?
A newspaper-writer-turned-blogger who calls himself the Rogue Columnist slices through the rhetoric to assemble some well-grounded viewpoints. And they remind me that newspapers can enrich their communities in a lot of non-heroic ways.
Are newspapers essential? If you dare to ask us, our self-importance may gag you. We expose social ills. We keep governments honest. We protect the public’s right to know. We safeguard free expression.
It is an impressive litany. But to our reading public, these noble quests can come across as stale catch phrases. And they’re not saving our bacon.
Some daily newspapers have been forced to make drastic choices. Many have hammered their news staffs. Several reduced the number of days they publish or provide home delivery. (The papers in Detroit are the latest to take this step.)
Some of these extreme cutbacks make me picture a household that drags all of its furniture onto the front lawn for a yard sale. Hmmm. Think they’re planning to stay?
People ask me if The Herald is holding steady. I happily pass along our publisher’s ode to optimism: This newspaper stays healthy by concentrating on the local community – and by preserving the news resources that serve its readers.
“News resources” is really just a two-dollar phrase that means “reporters, editors and photographers.” These are people whose life’s work is to pry and prod and keep us informed. And it is their energy – and their future contributions – that are lost when a newspaper folds, as the Seattle P-I did two weeks ago.
I was stung when the Seattle Times welcomed former P-I readers with a front-page column in which the executive editor took three paragraphs to enumerate the comics, puzzles and lifestyle features that he had picked up from the P-I.
And then he wrote: “Unfortunately, economic conditions will not allow us to hire any P-I journalists at this time.”
Well, you can save all the comics and puzzles you want. All the ink and paper and printing presses. All the awards and marketing slogans. It’s the reporters, editors and photographers that we need. They’re the ones who can make a difference.
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