Local news, which is mostly driven by newspaper reporting, has been financially suffering for several years. Then Covid came and put local media in critical condition.
From layoffs to closings, newsrooms are being hollowed out and diminished. Just take a look at what’s happening to the country’s oldest continuously published newspaper, The Hartford Courant.
Alden Global Capital (AGC) has bid to purchase The Hartford Courant. AGC is a hedge-fund that has earned a devious reputation for the extreme cost-cutting measures undertaken with other papers its bought.
The Courant’s troubles have been brewing for some time now with layoffs, closing of the newsroom office, and relying on fewer reporters to cover more stories, but it will be devastating if there is a takeover of the institution from an entity that does not value quality journalism.
In a small but diverse state like Connecticut, having vibrant local news sources is critical. Residents pride themselves on the uniqueness and character of the towns and cities they live in. Local news outlets can accurately portray the hyperlocal issues people care about in their communities. Also, like a quilt, if stitched together with other reporting from around the state, local news can create a big picture for us all to see.
If we begin to lose daily newspapers and websites that cover the major areas and nooks of the state, then our quilt will unravel and we will lose the connection to our communities.
But what about social media? Won’t that make up for what is lost with traditional news reporting? And it’s free, too!
Not if you want a well-informed populous. A recent Pew Research study found “that those who rely on social media for news are less likely to get the facts right about the coronavirus and politics and more likely to hear some unproven claim.” While social media can be a valuable supplement to an informed media diet, it can’t do everything. And as shown in the Pew study, it can also certainly cause damage in crucial times.
The fact is having journalists research and report accurate information is expensive but needed. Here’s the good news, however; we are not helpless in this situation.
It’s time to renew that newspaper subscription you let lapse, or make a donation to a non-profit news site. You can make a statement that you value high-quality news and help enrich our communities by supporting local journalism.
Because if we don’t all fight for a strong local media system now, it won’t be there to fight for our communities when we need them.