Bob Rawitch: The decline of local print newspapers is a blow to our democracy

American democracy is in grave trouble. Some would say it is because former President Donald Trump has exhibited an authoritarian, anti-democratic streak. Others blame radical right terrorists or those who are simply anti-government. And of course, the right blames the far left.

All may share some “credit.” Long term though, I have a greater concern about the growing vacuum in reliable, truthful information caused by the continuing winnowing and death of the printed newspaper.

Are they perfect?  Far from it.  Some are biased or tend to the sensational.  But there is a built-in system of editors and gatekeepers who generally adhere to established professional standards of presenting truthful information to the best of their abilities.

But that infrastructure has basically collapsed in the last 20 years and one can hear the gasps to stay alive. Just how bad is it:

• Since 2005 about 2,900 daily and weekly newspapers have closed, 130 last year alone, and on average three a week. During about the same period, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported newsroom employees dropped by a staggering 57% and the cuts continue to come annually.
• There are now 1,800 communities, including 524 in California, that used to have at least one newspaper who now have none. Rural and suburban newspapers have taken the biggest hits.
• Academic studies of newspaper content during this period shows that coverage of local politics has been reduced by 56% and school boards by 33%. A Duke University survey of 16,000 stories in 100 communities found only 17% were about local news or addressed a critical information need.

Existing newspapers are trying to convert, with mixed success, to digital operations, but visitors spend a fraction of the time on newspaper websites as opposed to the print edition. Meanwhile, most digital consumers get their information from Facebook or Google.

This “news desert” leaves a huge void for information-hungry consumers and does nothing to build an interest in news and information. The result is voters with lousy or no reliable news source know less about candidates and public officials. One study showed a decline in local coverage led to voters being less likely to have an opinion about their member of Congress or to name things they like or dislike about him or her.

In 1966, 70% of voters could name their mayors. In 2016, only 40% could.

Closure of newspapers in Seattle and Denver is thought by locals to have led to a drop in participation in civic affairs like the PTA, American Legion and Neighborhood Watch.

What can be done?

Against the strong opposition from Big Tech, both Canada and Australia in the last few years now require major tech platforms like Google and Facebook to pay a small fee when they post news to compensate the news gatherer that was the source of the story. In Australia, since 2021, the fees have paid for 50 new reporters for their public broadcasting service and put $150 million into news media coffers. Canada’s Online News Act, passed in June is patterned after the Australian model.

California’s Journalism Preservation Act, passed by a bipartisan state Assembly vote, would assure that 70% of similar fees paid by tech platforms go to newsroom payrolls. The bill will be considered in next year’s legislative session. It is critical it be passed and be signed by the governor.

There are a growing number of small non-profit newsgathering operations that have surfaced in recent years but only a few in major cities like Philadelphia, Tampa and Chicago. In those locations, residents will have solid vehicles for news.

But the future of the news business is unquestionably going to be delivered digitally and newspapers are looking for an economic model that will bring sufficient digital revenue to support meaningful numbers of editorial staffers.

Finally, individuals and society generally need a renewed emphasis on being informed about government and civic affairs and teaching news literacy and critical thinking to the younger generations.

It was former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who said, “in a democracy you get the government you deserve.”

Bob Rawitch lives in Northridge and was a reporter and senior editor for 30 years. He is a former president of the California Society of Newspaper Editors.