From The Editor’s Desk – National Newspaper Week: Hyper-local newspapers are dedicated to you

Several years ago, I had a well-meaning person tell me that they couldn’t wait to ‘see’ me “on [insert big-name news station name here - I will not be revealing which one]” in the future.

I stated I would not be taking that career path - I had chosen print journalism, and that was where I intended to stay; it is where I still intend to stay.

Print, local journalism is my passion: it is local, it gets to the heart of a community, and it allows me to know exactly who benefits from knowing the news.

Newspapers aren’t dead, either.

Hyper-local news (like your Gadsden County Times ) maintains young readers far more than most people think - roughly 30% of hyper-local newspaper readers across the country are under the age of 34, 50% are between the ages of 35-64, and 20% of readers are older than 65.

Hyper-local news is news for everyone, too; growing up, I was partially raised on local newspapers.

It started with the comics and puzzle pages, laying on my stomach in my grandparent’s Tallahassee living room, filling out Tallahassee Democrat puzzles.

But as I grew older, I read the personality pieces, the stories about arts and culture, and then eventually moved onto the political pages (still my least-favorite page, though).

Local news is news that grows with its readers by offering a variety of content - when you have a community newspaper, you have stories on arts and culture, stories on sports and athletes, stories about politics and government, and schools.

Recently, someone asked me how it was that my publisher’s company had just launched a brand-new newspaper in the Bradfordville/Tallahassee area, and was seeing much success both in advertisements and readership.

“Aren’t newspapers dying?” they asked.

I wish I knew who to blame for that rumor - that newspapers are on a final leg - because it is resoundingly not true.

Newspapers are refreshingly alive at a local level; they are one of the most-trusted platforms for news (93% of adults polled by the National Newspaper Association say they trust the news from their local newspaper), and readers trust advertisements in newspapers far more than they do the ads on television and social media.

Local newspapers aren’t just alive - we are thriving!

93% of polled Americans say that local newspapers keep them informed, 81% say that newspapers provide valuable shopping/sale information, 83% say that their households depend on local newspapers, and 66% say they rely on local news for candidate information.

Those aren’t dying numbers.

It still means something special when your accomplishment is published, when your business advertises, and when your candidacy is announced in the newspaper.

Your local newspaper fights for you, works long hours for you, carries longer emotional hours in community causes for you, and truly cares what happens in your community.

Usually, because these causes, those communities, are ours too.

Ashley Hunter - Times Editor

From The Editor’s Desk – National Newspaper Week: Hyper-local newspapers are dedicated to you

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From The Editor’s Desk – National Newspaper Week: Hyper-local newspapers are dedicated to you

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Gadsden County Times Legals – 10/6

Envision Credit Union launches Coats for Kids Campaign – Community initiative aims to collect new coats for kids in need this winter

Recommended

Popular News

Newsletter

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Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

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