American Newspapers Dying
Part of American Democratic Heritage Dying with Print Journalism
Mar 26, 2009
American newspapers are failing at the fastest rate since the middle of the 20th Century, when afternoon papers began to fold, leaving most communities with only one paper. Today’s losses leave some communities with no newspaper.
Since 2007, according to Newspaper Death Watch.com, newspapers have failed, declared bankruptcy or switched to online editions in Seattle, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Albuquerque, Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver and Ann Arbor. Dozens have cut staff, imposed unpaid furloughs and/or curtailed home delivery. Many papers have lost nearly 80% of their stock value.
Newspapers were the first to feel the 2007-09 advertising cutback and the worst hit by it.
There seems to be little national concern or alarm over the situation outside of the people directly involved with the papers. The losses have been almost buried in the 2008-09 recession news. The papers have received little of the attention and none of the funds given to failing banks, insurance companies and auto companies.
Should Newspapers Become Non-Profits?
U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin, D-MD is one of the few who have pointed to "the unique role that newspapers play in the development of American democracy and lifestyle. He proposed legislation that would give tax breaks to newspapers by allowing them to convert to non-profit organizations.
"The business model for newspapers, based on circulation and advertising revenue, is broken,"Cardin said. "We're losing a valuable tradition in America, critically important to our communities, critically important to our democracy."
The lack of more concern may rest upon the belief that:
- Newspapers will recover when the recession ends
- Television, radio and the Internet will assume the roles of the newspaper
Recession May Kill More Newspapers
However, the newspapers’ financial problems began before the current recession and there are few promising business models for them after the recovery. More may succumb to the recession.
Television, radio and the Internet can probably handle the advertising functions that newspapers have performed. But can they fill the news, community and leadership roles that newspapers have performed?
Radio and television face huge financial challenges of their own. Few stations have shown the ability or inclination to provide the depth of news coverage, the community service and the editorial courage that newspapers have provided.
Who Will Provide News Content?
The Internet is the best hope for providing the scope of news that newspapers have delivered and may become the primary outlet for journalists in the future. Some newspapers already deliver their content solely online. Others may follow.
For many people, however, the Internet does not provide the reading comfort or the trust that newspapers have traditionally enjoyed.
Talk shows do not provide the serious and diverse thought that go into letters to newspaper editors. The Internet has the potential to provide the disciplined thinking that comes with writing and reading a message before sending it, but much of its response is shot straight from the hip.
Young People Prefer Internet and Social Media
Listening to or watching someone select and read news, with whatever voice inflections and body language he or she chooses, is not the same as browsing through a newspaper and reading what one wishes to read.
Today’s young people accept the Internet and social media without hesitation. With papers in a struggle for survival, some of them will never know or appreciate the role that newspapers have played in the development of the nation or experience the quite pleasure of reading a paper every day.
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