CHEN WEIHUA

According to data published by the Newspaper Association of America, total advertising revenues for US newspapers declined by 55 percent in 2012 from their peak in 2005. Newspaper losses in print revenue have not been made up by revenue in the digital world.

The past few years have seen many iconic newspapers and magazines disappear from the limelight. Just a month ago, the Oregonian, the oldest paper on the West Coast, announced a cut in its print circulation to four days a week.

A Pew Center research study released in March showed estimated newspaper newsroom cutbacks in 2012 put the industry down 30 percent since its peak in 2000 and below 40,000 full-time professional employees for the first time since 1978.

Rapidly declining reporting power has triggered concern about the quality of journalism, especially investigative reporting, as more seasoned reporters are laid off.

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, who is also a First Amendment lawyer, suggested a university endowment type of fund should be set up to support newspapers in order to keep democracy functioning. Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com