“What do strong local newspapers do? Well, past research
has shown they increase
voter turnout, reduce
government corruption, make
cities financially healthier, make citizens more
knowledgable about politics and more
likely to engage with local government, force
local TV to raise its game, encourage
split-ticket (and thus less uniformly partisan) voting, make elected officials more
responsive and efficient, and bake the most delicious apple pies. Okay, not
that last one.
“Local newspapers are basically little machines that spit
out healthier democracies. And the best part is that you get to reap the
benefits of all those positive outcomes even
if you don’t read them yourself. (On behalf of newspaper readers
everywhere: You’re welcome.)”
—Joshua Benton, director, Nieman Journalism Lab,
“When
local newspapers shrink, fewer people bother to run for mayor,”
NiemanLab.org, April 2019.
• Editorial Comment: And then there's the occasional duck mauling.
Ceanothus at Wedding Rock
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