From the Centre Daily Times: Now more than ever, thank you for caring about local news
Thirty-five years ago, the Thanksgiving Day edition of the Centre Daily Times included a thank you note dedicated to “everyone who cares about news.” Before the internet and before the local news crisis, as outlined in a recent report by PEN America, the CDT highlighted and thanked readers, advertisers, carriers, reporters, editors, the sales team, production crew and others.
“The process of ink on newsprint is a collaboration of many needs, all hinging on an active, vocal reader who cares about what we produce, depends on us for information and tells us what he likes and doesn’t like,” the CDT wrote in that Nov. 22, 1984 edition.
We talk a lot about change in our business, but so much has stayed the same. We’re still one of the only companies that puts out a brand new product every single day, and to do that requires a dedicated team working in full collaboration. And today, it’s much more than ink on newsprint — it’s constant and real-time updates on centredaily.com, videos that enhance storytelling, podcasts and social media posts to engage and interact with our readers. I’m thankful everyday to work with a passionate team who’s dedicated to the many ways to bring essential journalism to our communities.
But most of all and more than ever, we at the CDT are thankful for our readers. You show time after time that you care about news — you care enough to write and call us, to demand answers, to share concerns and ask us to investigate. You share our stories and talk about them over your dinner tables or with neighbors. You’ve been understanding through a digital evolution, which has not been without growing pains.
As was the case in 1984, in 1934 when we became a daily and in 1898 when we were founded as The Weekly Times, nothing is possible without our readers. Since 2004, according to the PEN America report, 1,800 local print outlets have closed in the United States and at least 200 counties have no newspaper at all. I’m thankful not to live in one of them. Implications of a loss of local news, studies found, are a less informed community with citizens that are less likely to vote or run for office.
It’s true that local news faces a crisis across the country, but as the CDT and other organizations look for creative and thoughtful solutions, there’s much to be grateful for. With the internet (yes, the same thing that flipped our business model upside down,) we’re now able to reach more people than ever before, in more ways than ever. Whether you’re new to the CDT, reaching us from afar to keep up with news you’re interested in or you’re one of the 40- or 50-year subscribers who are so important to us, thank you. We hope you’ll continue to support local journalism through subscribing.
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for caring about the news.