Local newspapers are disappearing across the country. In the United States, a quarter of the country’s newspapers have shut operations in less than 20 years. In Canada, there have been dozens of community newspaper closures in 2023 alone, with hundreds of workers laid off and several news outlets becoming insolvent. Along with decreased subscriptions, local newspapers face financial challenges resulting from advertising revenues migrating to digital platforms.
Yet, local newspapers remain an essential part of community life, especially for residents of smaller towns and communities. Studies in rural Saskatchewan and Manitoba show they are the most trusted news source when compared to television news, internet websites and social media platforms. In Alberta, surveys indicate 80 per cent of respondents read their local newspaper weekly. This percentage has not dropped since 2005, indicating that younger residents are reading local newspapers with the same interest as their older counterparts.
Local newspapers are key in letting people know what is going on in their community. They provide information so citizens can make knowledgeable decisions about key local issues and studies show that adults who read local newspapers participate in municipal elections at higher rates than those who do not. By publicizing community events, they also promote participation in community life, and increase sense of belonging and connection among local residents.
Local newspapers can also be the catalyst for social change when they uplift voices that would otherwise go unheard. Toronto news media reported on how the police practice of carding – stopping, questioning and documenting those who have committed no offence – was disproportionately affecting Black and Indigenous men. Coverage in local newspapers amplified the advocacy efforts of Black and Indigenous community groups and eventually led to passing of provincial legislation banning the practice.
Community newspapers encourage open dialogue and debate about important community issues and reduce political polarization by exposing people to different perspectives. They are important for the health and success of communities because they create common understandings and a shared sense of community. Local newspapers hold up a mirror in which the community can see itself reflected. At the same time, local newspapers shape community character through storytelling and portrayal of people and events. Community newspapers are also important for stimulating the economy – they provide advertising for local businesses thus connecting them with customers in their own community.
Often community newspapers are the lone agents covering municipal council meetings, court proceedings and other local public gatherings. Reliable media coverage keeps elected officials accountable and forces decision-makers to operate within the view of the public. Where newspapers have closed, studies in the United States show increased rates of corruption among politicians. Additionally, newspapers hold businesses and other community organizations to account on social, ethical and environmental issues.
Local journalism is a public good that benefits everyone and needs to be supported by individuals, governments and the private sector. We need to subscribe to our local newspapers and keep reading and engaging with issues and encourage our friends and family to do the same. We need to keep discourse in the newspaper, and in the community, civil and kind. We must take the opportunity to understand different perspectives and find common ground with our fellow citizens.
We also need to encourage our governments to support community-centred journalism. We need news agencies that work with citizens to find out what their information needs are and how best to meet these needs to build better communities. Governments can provide grants and tax deductions to newspapers. but they must remain at arm’s length to protect the independence of the media and maintain non-partisan reporting of events.
Local newspapers also need to diversify their funding models. Traditional for-profit models may no longer work in every community with digital media platforms taking away advertising and subscriptions from local newspapers. We have to look at non-profit models that are funded by private donations and government grants, in addition to advertising and sponsorships. Non-profit news outlets can deliver the type of journalism that prioritizes citizen needs and accountability from governments, businesses and the community over shareholder profits.
The cooperative ownership model is an alternative that workers at the Prince Albert Daily Herald in Saskatchewan adopted when their newspaper was threatened with closure. They bought shares in an employee stock ownership plan and continued operating the newspaper when the owning publishing chain was about to shut it down.
Finally, we need to keep our newspapers accountable. We need them to publish accurate and varied content and ensure that diverse voices are heard. We expect our newspapers to adhere to ethical journalism practices and provide us with unbiased reporting. They need to have the courage to challenge the status quo and generate healthy discourse within the community. Local newspapers create engaged citizens, and engaged citizens are essential to a healthy democracy.
Vamini Selvanandan is a rural family physician and public health practitioner in Alberta. Her commentaries appear in the Rocky Mountain Outlook on the third Thursday of each month. For more articles like this, visit: www.engagedcitizen.ca.
