With the age of the internet, broadcast, and other forms of online ways to get our news fast, newspapers are slowly going out of style and small towns are usually the first to be affected.
This semester, I have been able to start getting into what it takes to be a journalist and not only am I getting real work broadcast radio experience on WRFL, which in itself is super exciting and fun.
I also have been given the opportunity (through another journalism class) to get real-world reporting experience via the Midway Messenger, a small town University of Kentucky student (and professor) run newspaper for the greater Midway area.
So in the spirit of advocating for that, these are 11 reasons why newspapers are still relevant today, especially in small towns.
1. They report local events
They don't have to focus on everything and anything that goes on in the world and can put a great deal of emphasis on what is going on in their own area.
2. They might be one of the only ways that town gets news.
Yes, the people living in the small town probably have phones and yes, they probably can get news from that, but there may not be a way for them to know what is going on locally whether its a city council meeting or what is happening at the local school.
3. They provide jobs.
Even if the paper gets its journalist and various other things else where, you still have to be able to print the newspaper somewhere.
4. They address critical information.
Especially pertaining to what is going on in their specific city.
5. Readers will be more informed about local government and city council meetings.
Small town newspapers have the ability to focus on more than issues than what is covered by national and bigger papers (such as the local government meeting), due to the fact that often time
6. They are stories about local heroes and places.
Whether it's your local grocer or a feature on that new restaurant around the corner, small-town newspapers have the ability to cover almost any local people who have made a big enough impact on the town. Maybe that one bigtime football star is coming back to his hometown.
7. They reenforce community participation.
It's a paper by the community for the community.
8. Businesses know that every reader is a potential customer.
Most businesses probably know that if they are featured in their local paper, anyone who lives where that paper is distributed will be more likely to go to that place, especially if the feature is done well and gives a good "review".
9. More meaningful stories
Again, this is a case where in a small-town, everyone pretty much knows everyone else so the stories put into the paper becomes that much more meaningful not only to the people it is about but to the community as a whole.
10. They're writers/keepers of local history.
Not only does a newspaper have information on current events, but they also keep what they have written for past events and various other things that a small-town may want to go back and look at (or really any town in general).
11. They provide a valuable form of public service.
They do this by helping to connect people with those around them.
