Guest Editorial

In the decades since I completed my journalism education at the University of Missouri and went on to become a communications and marketing professional, local journalism has changed dramatically. Back then, there was universal recognition in the communications industry, in business, in politics — in virtually every quarter of American life — that a healthy, robust, and vigorous network of locally based news organizations, like the Times Union and Wnyt/newschannel 13, with their connected reporters and editors, was part of the lifeblood of our communities. Unfortunately, in many places that is no longer true.

The economic and political realities of that system have changed, but I believe the spirit of it has not. The factors that brought about the reduction of news outlets in local journalism are numerous and complex. The competition for advertisers from national publications and, most notably, the explosion in the number of cable news channels over the years, have deprived many local newspapers, radio stations, and television news operations of the resources they need to remain vibrant and influential. According to recent research by the Brookings Institution, “The traditional business model that once supported local newspapers–relying on print subscribers and advertising to generate revenue–has become difficult to sustain, as the audience for local news continues to shrink and advertising dollars disappear.” The result? “Over 65 million Americans live in counties with only one local newspaper—or none at all.” Thank goodness we aren’t in one of them.

Another form of competition for the attention of consumers has been the growth of Facebook and Google as news sources and advertising giants worldwide. They are a dominant force in business expenditures for digital advertising, accounting for the majority of such advertising revenue in the United States.

I am thankful for the resilience and persistence of those media entities, particularly the Times Union and Wnyt/newschannel 13, and local businesses, like St. Peter's Health Partners, that work together to support community education platforms like Livesmart. By overcoming market challenges to support science-based news and information about your wellness and wellbeing, they provide an important public service in these times when the stakes are high for both.

Despite the barriers, the Times Union, WNYT/ Newschannel 13, and St. Peter's demonstrate their commitment to the local population – to you – by sustaining this project, week after week. It steadfastly remains an accessible forum, created and empowered by local news outlets.

I still believe that the spirit of local journalism, and our interest in it, live on, and am grateful to the Times Union, Wnyt/newschannel 13, and St. Peter's for their unwavering loyalty to providing life-enhancing information.

Bill Walker, a communications consultant, has held executive positions in communications, marketing, and external relations at Brandeis University, University of Arizona, R.P.I., Dartmouth College, Rutgers University, the College of William and Mary, and Skidmore College.