Newspapers still play vital role
OUR EDITORIAL: WHAT WE THINK
ake news” has become a buzz word in the digital age, with the internet populated with such a preponderance of “news” and information sites, it’s enough to make your head spin.
According to research conducted last year, almost onethird of Canadians (63 per cent) were unable to distinguish between legitimate news websites and fake news stories, and 65 per cent of Canadians expressed concern that false information or fake news is being used as a weapon.
It’s in this environment that the work of the mainstream media, including newspaper journalism, takes on heightened importance.
“The role of newspapers has never been so crucial,” said Bob Cox, chair of the board of directors of News Media Canada, the national association that represents Canadian newspapers. “Every day, newspapers work to bring Canadians from coast to coast to coast real, trusted, truthful news — which is as vital to democracy as clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health.”
The work of newspapers is in the spotlight this week during National Newspaper Week, which includes a campaign aimed at rallying the support of Canadians for the in-depth, credible, independent reporting that newspapers provide.
For decades, the independent news reporting provided by newspapers was funded by the support of local and national advertisers. The growth of the internet has attracted readership online, and with it the advertising dollars that used to go to newspapers. Today, 70 per cent of Canada’s online ad revenue goes to online giants Facebook and Google, in spite of the fact that surveys consistently show advertising in either digital or print newspapers is the most trusted of all ad formats.
While that has made economic life difficult for newspapers, they are far from obsolete.
“Newspapers do not have a readership problem,” said Cox, noting recent research showing that eight in 10 Canadians, and 85 per cent of millennials, still read a newspaper every week.
It isn’t only by providing national and international news that newspapers play their vital role, but also at the grassroots level by helping citizens connect with their community. As best-selling U.S. author Michael Connelly noted: “A newspaper is the centre of a community, it’s one of the tent poles of the community, and that’s not going to be replaced by websites and blogs.”
During National Newspaper Week, Canadians are encouraged to show that newspapers still matter to them, by signing a pledge of support online at newspapersmatter.ca. In doing so, they will be sending a message to Canadian businesses, advertisers and all levels of government that newspapers remain a trusted and important news source for Canadians.
The campaign also extends to social media by inviting newspaper readers to share a photo of themselves with their favourite paper on their social media channels, using #NewspapersMatter and #NowMoreThanEver.
The digital age has changed and is changing the world, but it hasn’t replaced the need for trustworthy news and information about what happens in our world and how that affects us. Citizens in a healthy democracy rely on truthful information, and it’s the job of newspapers to find it and provide it.
That’s why there remains an important role for newspapers to fill — perhaps now more than ever.