Although the
source of this article is “Commentary”, or Opinion, it highlights a concerning and consistent trend; the reliance on news “snacking ” available more widely on platforms and other compendiums, as well as apathy from lesser news focused audiences. At issue - we witness the closure of yet another group of local papers, this time in Minnesota, likely to be hotly contested State in 2024 Elections.
These local news source closures create a sudden vacuum for both information on local elections/political facts and the loss of a home for critical local announcements /notifications that impact people’s daily lives. BSI, along with other industry bodies have been trying to highlight the importance and worth of local news in a way that might garner support from advertisers, large and small, to provide some of the financial fuel to keep these foundations for democracy alive, healthy, and expressing views for us all to consume for a more informed perspective. Some newsrooms have gone Digital to maintain their audiences and efficiency, but that is not always the answer based on your audience and their location/availability to strong internet service. Additionally, some have maintained a skeleton staff and make use of volunteers to mind the gap - creative, but are these volunteers appropriately skilled in the tenets of strong journalism? We are is a precarious predicament.
From a New Yorker article in 2020, speaking on the origination of the Hutchins Commission in the1940’s to draw attention to the importance of balanced reporting:
“Civilized society . . . lives and changes by the consumption of ideas,” the report argues. “Therefore it must make sure that as many as possible of the ideas which its members have are available for its examination.” It’s because the press is the primary conduit through which people engage with the ideas they need to function as democratic citizens that it must be both protected and scrutinized.”
…….And nearly 75 years later as we are in a an election year…. "that Confidence in the media is at a nadir, the country’s political divisions are driving disagreement over basic facts, and half-truths, falsehoods, and propaganda have overrun digital platforms and polluted the news ecosystem”.
These threats will have lasting implications on a healthy democracy, which is why we support the Local Media Consortium (LMC)/NewsNext and advise all marketers and agencies to explore the many news analysis tools to make better decisions about where you show up and how your dollars can actually help sustain your businesses, which exist on a market to market basis. Options exist to meet advertising goals and make news sustainable. Use them.
