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Today we were discussing the slow death of local newspapers. This past Monday the local paper here, the Lexington Herald-Leader, laid off 53 people in its operation and asked others to take a pay cut in order to retain their jobs. This same scene is being played out across the country, as most of you already know.I'm one of those who likes reading my news online. But when I travel to new areas for my job I DO make a habit of picking up local papers. You get a feeling for an area in their printed paper that you don't get in their online presence. Or at least I do. I'm not even sure I understand why. That might be a good subject for a future post.
A week ago, Herald-Leader reporter Tom Eblen had this piece in the paper. In it he mentions what our writer and I were talking about today and what is probably the one thing I would hate to see gone when newspapers fold or are in the process of folding; investigative reporting. The fourth estate is a major influence in keeping the lid on political corruption and business impropriety. I don't mean everyday reporting, I mean dig in and spend the time, money and resources to get to the truth of the matter. As much as I love them, local bloggers don't usually have those three necessary assets.Looking at how the newspaper industry is shrinking and cutting costs, our writer and myself found ourselves in disagreement. She believes that in five years we will see widespread local political corruption.
I say it will be more like three, maximum.
2 comments:
I wouldn't be surprised to see a cleaver entrepreneur create a news site devoted to investigative reporting. There certainly is a need and I suspect someone will find a way to fill it. I'd like to discuss this further over the Guinness you owe me, Sir.
There was talk here in Baltimore about converting the Baltimore Sun to a "Co-op" organization. Of course the usual concerns about editorial integrity and buying into a co-op arise. I usually get my news from places like the local City paper, a freebie, left-wing, places to go eat, dance, listen to music and find instant anonymous sex source. But it will usually have a couple really good articles about things that I find important as an urban dweller; blight, homelessness, local gov't backwardness.
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