I grew up in a time when newspapers were abundant. We had morning and evening papers, community newspapers, and various periodicals. These newspapers cited good, sad, glad, and unwelcome news, humorous news, a society page and of course the funnies with Dick Tracy talking into his wristwatch. Today newspapers of all categories have diminished while my grandchildren are talking into their watches.
“Almost 40% of all local U.S. newspapers have vanished, leaving 50 million Americans with limited or no access to a reliable source of local news. In 2005, just over 150 counties lacked a source of local news; today, there are more than 210. Meanwhile, the journalism industry faces new and intensified challenges including shrinking circulations and steep revenue losses from changes to search methods and the adoption of AI technologies. Meanwhile political attacks against public broadcasting threaten to leave large swaths of rural America without local news. While standalone and digital network sites are strong alternatives to print newspapers for many readers, they remain heavily concentrated. Less than 10% of digital-only news outlets are in counties designated as rural by the USDA. And the demographic characteristics of counties supporting digital sites are the opposite to news deserts: These counties tend to be more affluent, with lower rates of poverty and higher rates of educational attainment.” (State and Local News 2025 Report)
Electronic media options can be and often are quite biased. Some personalities are chosen because of how they look meaning the appearance or image outweighs their knowledge or substance. The discussions may offer little that is relevant. These are the facts but are they the whole story?
Without access to correct and truthful information, we become less informed as a society. Granted there are some quality news outlets on various platforms. These may require a diligent search and the ability to discern which are better. Does this mean we are better informed or less informed? Social media creates its own set of challenges for truth seekers. No knowledge of authors, algorithms constantly doubling up with false or erroneous reports. If a person views an erroneous post, even commenting on why it is incorrect they may then find their inbox flooded with similar disinformation. The algorithms notice a response and acknowledge it as a request for more of the same being delivered to your inbox daily. Add to this the claimed efforts to balance news between right and left, conservative and liberal. Oftentimes I believe we are not balancing equal alternatives. Some of our leaders are so extreme in their views that giving it equal weight to two differing opinions on the same issue is an injustice.
Local newspapers are most important in any community. By providing news and information that is relevant to a specific area, it tends to reduce political polarization. If rampant crime, immigration concern, and violence are not recurring locally but the only news available is national what is that saying to the reader or viewer. These national publications are doing their job by reporting the facts, but these facts may not be happening in certain areas. If we only have the opportunity to read national reporting, we may internalize these concerns which do not affect or occur in any significant way in our community. Yet we feel a part of these problems. We can not bring local reporting back in any significant way. The report on local government actions is lost as is the old-fashioned police blotter. How do we know what is happening in our town or neighbor if no one is reporting it?
The question becomes how do we balance our actual concerns with those of our nation or state? How do we get things in perspective in this divided world? Many quality journalists have been forced to move on to other platforms. These often tend to be opinions primarily because they have neither the time nor staff to dig deeper for truth. I believe that truth and integrity should be and are the guiding principles of good journalists. When we see significant media companies and corporate types surrendering to political pandering it is terribly sad. If quality, honest journalists want to survive and continue to think independently, then shifting to various blogs may be their preferred choice. Knowing which to follow is our separate challenge.
Phil's Personal Perspectives 