Column: Communities Suffer Without Local Journalism

By Lisa Pett

Modern journalism is facing a lot of tough battles right now.

The integrity of the media is being attacked on a daily basis. Some would agree that explicit bias in reporting is the biggest reason but that is an argument for another column.

Journalism is important. So important that Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin enshrined the craft in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The FIRST: it’s right there in the First Amendment.

The press is the only way the voting population has access to what is going on in their government. And the U.S. has always had a hearty appetite for news.

But we seem to crave what is easy to digest. Like fast food, we want it quick, we want it easy, and we want it served our way.

And we no longer feel the need to pay for it.

Maybe the internet is to blame. Or the 24-hour news cycle. Or the corporatization of media outlets.

As local media outlets shrink, corporations scoop up the news business. They prop up shrinking subscription rates on the backs of a few national advertisers like Walmart, Target, Lowes and national grocery chains who still print coupons.

Local businesses have fewer advertising options and scarcely know where to direct their meager advertising budgets, often relying on social media to do their local advertising.

The lack of local reporters is very noticeable. Chain newspapers print one or two local features and a letter to the editor. The rest of their meager content is filled with obituaries and press releases.

It’s about resources. People don’t want print news. They don’t want to buy a piece of paper containing articles that are 18-24 hours old—they get their news on the internet.

But news on the internet ain’t free. Domain registration fees, website hosting fees, server storage fees and maintenance, bandwidth costs. News outlets aren’t buying ink and paper, they’re buying pixels.

And most are doing it from afar. Most are no longer putting reporters on the ground in communities. They have no presence at city council meetings, or county or school board meetings.

Reporting is a human job. News reporters do not just sit at a computer making up facts; they are out gathering facts. They take photos and conduct interviews. Then they research. And fact-check.

Then they write. And rewrite. And edit. And edit again.

And they can never please everyone.

But they do it all again the next day. And the next. For a pittance.

There is a reason I have a journalism degree but am not a news reporter. It’s hard. But it’s necessary. More than ever it is necessary to counteract disinformation being spread on the internet. Disinformation being spoke by politicians.

Anyone reading this probably found it while looking for truly local news. Anyone reading this should be supporting local news. Because we will all be worse off if it goes away.

Pett can be reached at [email protected].