Chapter 8

With the coming of radio and television, newspapers in the twentieth century surrendered  their title as the mass medium shared by the largest audience. However, to this day newspapers remain the single most important source of news for the nation, even in the age of the Internet. Although many "readers" today cite Yahoo! and Google are only directors that guide readers to other news stories, most often to online newspaper sites. This means that newspaper organizations are still the primary institutions doing the work of gathering and reporting the news. Even with all the newsroom cutbacks across the United States, newspapers remain the only journalistic organization in most towns and cities that still employs hundreds of people to report news and tell the community's stories.

Newspapers link people to what matters in their communities, their nation, and their world. No other journalistic institution serves society as well. But, with smaller news resources and the industry no longer able to sustain high profit margins, what will become of news papers in 20 to 30 years? Who will gather the information needed to sustain a democracy, to serve as the "watchdog" over our key institutions, and to document the comings and goings of everyday life? And, perhaps more importantly, who will act on behalf of the people who do not have the news media's access to authorities or the ability to influence them?