A bright future for LOCAL newspapers

Newspapers, and the professionals who create them, are still much in need. Perhaps now more than ever.

?ÄúBut I can just get my news online,?Äù you might say. Well, yes, there?Äôs an abundance of ?Äústuff?Äù out there. Do you know who is creating your news online? Do you know who is backing them? (Remember the old addage, ?ÄúFollow the money.?Äù) 

Two weeks ago, the journalism world was shaken (again) by Gannett. Twelve people plus the publisher at the St. Cloud Times were unceremoniously sacked, as were hundreds around the country at other Gannett ?Äúproperties.?Äù The editor who had mentored nearly everyone who has come through the newsroom in 40-some years was among them. So was one of their three photographers. Four advertising people, and even the receptionist. The head of USA Today for this region also will serve as president and publisher of several Gannett newspapers whose publishers were all let go. 

Indeed, the Times has endured other painful cuts, and this one likely is not the last. 

Corporately owned news businesses are answerable to their stockholders; they exist to make money. Creating news costs money: salaries, ongoing training, benefits, not to mention the tangible things like printing and delivering an actual newspaper. (Insert cash register sounds here, ?Äúcha-ching.?Äù) Corporations hire hatchet-men (and women) to ruthlessly make cuts when needed. That?Äôs just part of the process.

That said, I am again encouraged and ever-so grateful to be an independent newspaper owner. Yes, the ?Äúbuck?Äù does stop with me. But so do the decisions. I can turn on a time, implementing something new when warranted, as often as needed. 

The bottom line has to be continuity of quality news creation, by caring and hard-working professionals. Being informed is essential to the democratic process. Knowing and trusting the people who create the news you consume is critical.

The media (and I hate that that?Äôs become a bad word lately; there is no ?Äúagenda,?Äù and no secret meetings where we?Äôre told how and what to write!) is one of the checks and balances in government. ?ÄúThe Fourth Estate?Äù we?Äôre sometimes called, like a fourth branch of government. Executive, Legislative, Judicial, and Media.

Our job is to shine light into dark corners, to reveal what some may prefer to stay hidden. Today, that can be in print form, or online. Behind both formats are hard-working professionals.

These days, you have a choice of so many sources of information. Social media (something else getting a bad rap these days) is one way; but it?Äôs not the same as news. 

To paraphrase the St. Cloud Times Managing Editor John Bodette, when you subscribe to your local newspaper, and when you purchase advertising there, you are investing in local journalism. 

Our website tagline is ?ÄúLocal people. Local stories. Local life.?Äù We are one of many hard-working LOCAL news organizations providing you LOCAL news every week and every day.

We need you to know that we appreciate your support, every day. Every subscription check is confirmation that we must continue our hard work to produce a high-quality newspaper. Every advertising dollar we receive is a mandate to work even harder for you, the advertiser.

If you value LOCAL news, please subscribe, please advertise. Your community is counting on you to support LOCAL news in whatever way you can. Thank you!