Closure of Print Media in Oregon Rings a News Death Knell for Small Town Communities
The closure of print media is a worldwide phenomenon and Oregon is no exception.
The news industry in Oregon has not added a single job to its workforce since 2004 and has experienced double-digit losses for three consecutive years since 2019.
While large publications like The Oregonian have laid off hundreds of people through attrition and buyouts over the years, it is the loss of small home-town newspapers that is having a deep impact. Such towns do not have a local TV or radio station, or a professional online news service.
This spells a breakdown in a sense of community spirit and of belonging.
Fighting for the Survival of Print Media
Fighting for the survival of print media, and in particular small-town local newspapers, is the president of the Oregon Publishers Association, Chelsea Marr, whom is also then owner of the Columbia Gorge News.
Marr says local publications add value to communities, acting as watchdogs over politicians and local governments. Also, local newspapers provide an essential local community service with articles of interest about residents, businesses and sporting events.
Her opinion is shared by Oregon publisher J. Brian Monihan of Carpenter Media. He says without local newspapers, residents lose their connection to the past and the common bond of community spirit that ties together the people who make it special.
Marr hopes to take advantage of the support shown earlier this year when Washington lawmakers agreed to increase the tax break for newspaper publishers, following in the footsteps of other states which have obtained government support to keep local news services alive.
Oregon Print Media Affected by Online News Services
Data from the Oregon Employment Department reveals that the newspaper industry has shed thousands of jobs forced by downsizing or closure. The cutbacks continue this summer.
In Eugene, nearly all the journalists at The Register-Guard newspaper were shown the door. In this way, the Gannett chain owners were able to slash overheads and turn to charging for subscriptions.
Cutbacks last month (June) at EO Media in eastern and central Oregon saw the closure of five weekly or biweekly newspapers in Baker City, Bend, Hermiston, Medford and Pendleton, where more than two dozen employees were laid off.
After acquiring the Pamplin Media chain, at least half a dozen staffers involved in the Carpenter Media Group takeover lost their jobs.
Overview
As print media drowns under the deluge of free information available on the internet, the loss of the men and women involved in local newspaper services leaves the way open for gossip and rumor on social media sites. Local governments will no longer be held accountable, and communities will suffer the loss of local news that creates a spirit of belonging.
The fact that the loss of local publications will undermine the ability to sustain functional democracy is emphasized by Kaitlin Gillespie, the executive officer of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild. However, she does express optimism about the emergency of online publications such as the Lookout Eugene-Springfield, which is about to be launched, and the Salem Reporter. Both are backed by local investors.
Gillespie is hopeful that the emergence of local online publications will be a game-changer for the industry.