The news on newspapers is not great.
The U.S. lost local publications at a rate of 2.5 per week in 2023, according to researchers at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in the school’s annual “State of Local News Project.” That’s up from two per week in 2022 and has resulted in at least 204 U.S. counties with no local news outlet. Another 228 are on the brink of joining them in the next five years based on the project’s predictive modeling.
Currently more than half of the nation’s counties — 1,766 out of 3,143 — either have no or only one local news source. Unfortunately this has become an all-too familiar storyline. Since 2005, closings or mergers have claimed about 3,000 newspapers across the country, decimating the industry’s landscape by one-third in just 20 years. The vast majority of those still standing? Weeklies.
But it’s not all doom and gloom as we mark the 84th annual National Newspaper Week Oct. 6-12. The occasion gives publications an opportunity to remind readers of their continued importance as a window into the diverse facets of a community while at the same time serving to unite residents around the desire for a hometown where integrity, creativity and prosperity can thrive.
Last week, The Hinsdalean celebrated 18 years since its launch in 2006, one of a number of success stories as the 21st century has unfolded with publishers and their staff recalibrating and reintroducing themselves to a readership clearly still interested in the people with whom they share a zip code and developments that impact them directly.
“We are at a moment of great loss but also great possibility for local journalism,” said Sarah Stonbely, co-author of the State of Local News report and director of the project.
The theme of this year’s National Newspaper Week observance is Telling Our Stories. Here at The Hinsdalean we try our best to deliver stories that inform, inspire and enlighten. From balanced, incisive reporting on village and school boards to features on the Hinsdale arts scene and sports landscape that reach beyond simple program notes and stat lines to uncover the motivations driving the participants — who may live right down your street.
In this issue alone you’ll find the latest installment in our periodic Good Reasons series apprising you of the unique new businesses in the downtown, a profile of the rookie student resource officer at Hinsdale Central and a report on how the village is trying to bring neighbors relief from flooding.
We appreciate the recognition from our peers over the years — bringing home awards is certainly nice validation. But the accolades are a byproduct of our commitment to quality and comprehensive local reporting that cannot be found anywhere else. That is to say it can’t found anywhere else in print or digitally (www.thehinsdalean.com).
Thank you for supporting our work to illuminate the multi-faceted community that Hinsdale is. And if there’s something you think worthy of coverage, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
