The Local Paper: Why we need it now more than ever – Redux
“The freedom of press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.” ~ George Mason
The first issue of The Pocahontas Times came hot off the press in 1883. In the 141 years that followed, residents of Pocahontas County have never missed even one week without our Pocahontas Times, even during the devastating floods of 1985 and 1996. Talk about commitment to its readers.
Local print newspapers, the lifeblood of our communities, face a unique and pressing threat from technology. The internet’s power and presence are pushing these smaller papers to the brink, forcing them to find innovative ways to survive.
A recent story in the New York State Bar Association’s journal about the decline of print newspapers, both large and small, found that there are now fewer than 7,000 newspapers in the U.S., most of which have a circulation of under 15,000 subscribers.
Newspapers, in general, but specifically local papers, are clearly in an existential crisis. Social media, dwindling advertising income, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) threaten smaller newspapers.
Yet, I am happy and proud to state that our Pocahontas Times is still healthy and provides the only focused and in-depth coverage of local news, sports, activities, and politics in this region. As is often said, “All politics is local.”
You’ll not drive by the Time’s office without seeing the crew of women who craft our paper always, and I mean always, hard at work.
One significant difference between large-city newspapers and The Pocahontas Times is that writers and editors face their readers daily.
Small-town newspapers must maintain a specific sensitivity not generally exercised by larger metropolitan papers and tabloids. As one reporter for a community paper in Wyoming said, “You have to remember that the person you are talking to is probably related to the person you are talking about.”
Another distinction of local papers is that the scope and breadth of what is reported vary considerably from those of big city newspapers.
“I really love that The Pocahontas Times will put a picture of a third-grader in the paper who was named “Student of the Month.” Imagine the positive effect that may have on that young student. That single experience could influence the entire course of his or her life.” ~ Mary Dawson.
Of course, the most important job of any local paper is building and maintaining the community’s trust, something I feel the Times has done quite admirably for over a hundred years.
To survive, many small newspapers have gone to a digital-only status. Others lose critical advertising revenue when the big chain stores come into the area, causing small businesses to close their doors.
Additionally, the loss of local newspapers disproportionately affects rural and low-income areas because access to reliable high-speed internet is often absent.
Areas with aging populations show a greater preference for print over digital news. These people are less likely to utilize the internet or cell phone to obtain local news, making them even more marginalized.
More than 2,000 local or regional newspapers have closed their doors for good in the past 20 years. When this happens, the community suffers on several fronts. Not only are citizens deprived of local news and events, but public oversight of local officials and politicians is considerably diminished.
The historical content of columns like Preserving Pocahontas, 50 years, 75 years, and 100 years ago, would be far less accessible to the public without The Pocahontas Times. Our weekly newspaper helps to maintain our ties to the past and the traditions of our region in Appalachia.
National and international news is ubiquitous and just a click away on our cell phones, laptops and TV. And, of course, we have Allegheny Mountain Radio as a provider of local news and events.
However, some people look forward to the heft and smell of printed news.
“I like to hold a newspaper in my hand while relaxing in a comfortable chair with a fresh cup of coffee.” ~ Ruth Taylor
Local news is unique and something we should take seriously in these times of diminishing newspapers. The national news is often biased, and I wonder how, or even if, unfiltered news would be received by a social media-inebriated and uncritical population that embraces fake news and outrageous conspiracy theories.
Has the all-pervasive media made us unable to “Handle the truth?” One introspective fellow I met on the Greenbrier River Trail said, “Hey, just give me the bare facts and not merely opinions; I’m intelligent enough to come to conclusions independently.
That one brief engagement on the GRT suggests we can handle the truth without talking heads consuming and regurgitating the news before we get it. The days of unadulterated news seem to be a thing of the past, and news journalists like Walter Cronkite and Eric Sevareid are few and far between.
It’s now time to hear from a few of our readers:
“Being a relative newcomer, I rely on The Pocahontas Times for learning about the community, its people, services offered, and the Calendar of Events.” ~ Robyn Fitzsimmons
“One of the last bastions of individuality that genuinely reflects the interests and concerns of our neighbors is our local newspaper.” ~ Margot Marshall
“There are two things I like about The Pocahontas Times. First, there is the long tradition of local news and editorials written (in the words of Thomas Carlyle) ‘with cool vigor and laconic pith.’
“I also like letters that address local concerns. And I appreciate the candor in some of the classifieds, ‘Cat – free to a good home, would make a good barn cat.’ You can’t do better than that.” ~ David Elliott
“The anticipation of getting The Pocahontas Times after my dad, Vernon, finished reading it, was something that I looked forward to each and every Thursday. The local news inspired me to become a journalist and writer.” ~ John Dean
“I hope we can always have our local newspaper. It is especially important in a rural area such as ours. Events, cancellations, funeral notices, and scheduled meetings. I also love how The Pocahontas Times promotes our fairs, festivals and fundraisers.” ~ Ruth Taylor
In closing, I would like to share one memorable sentence I encountered while reading the police blotter section of a local newspaper in southeastern Ohio in February of 1977: ‘Mrs. Fletcher, of 3981 Beatty Avenue, reported several schoolboys urinating dirty words in the snow in front of her house.’
You won’t find that tidbit in the New York Times!
Ken Springer
ken1949bongo@gmail.com