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Newspapers closing, news deserts growing for beleaguered news industry

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. serts-growing-for-beleaguered-news-industry.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, November 4th 2025 at 7:08 GMT by The Gazette

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News Deserts Expand as Newspapers Fold

The Gazette’s investigative piece, “Newspapers closing: news deserts growing for beleaguered news industry,” chronicles a relentless exodus of local print outlets in the United States and the widening void left in communities that rely on local journalism for civic engagement, accountability, and identity. Drawing on a blend of hard data, industry testimony, and firsthand accounts, the article paints a stark picture of a sector in free fall, and it raises urgent questions about the future of public information in an era of digital dominance.

A Rapid Decline

The article opens by noting that the number of daily newspapers in the country has dropped from roughly 2,600 in the mid‑1990s to just over 1,400 in 2023—a 50 % decline. It cites the Pew Research Center’s 2023 report on “News Deserts,” which defines a news desert as a county or census division that lacks a daily newspaper and has no local weekly coverage of politics, public safety, or local government. According to Pew, about 60 % of U.S. counties are now classified as news deserts, a figure that has risen sharply in the last decade.

The Cost of Digital Shift

The Gazette explains that the transition to digital platforms, while offering new revenue models, has largely failed to offset the erosion of print advertising. “Print ad revenue has collapsed, and many local papers have been unable to build sustainable online audiences,” the piece notes. It highlights the experience of the Poughkeepsie Journal, which shut its doors in 2023 after a long history of community reporting. The closure was preceded by a 40 % drop in circulation over the past five years, coupled with an inability to monetize its website beyond a modest paywall.

The article also examines the role of conglomerates such as Gannett and GateHouse Media. In an interview with a former editor at a Gannett‑owned outlet, the journalist reveals how corporate restructuring led to layoffs and the shuttering of “legacy newsroom departments” that had previously covered local government meetings and public safety incidents.

A Void for Democratic Accountability

One of the most compelling aspects of the Gazette’s story is its focus on the democratic consequences of these closures. With fewer reporters covering local council meetings, school boards, and police department actions, citizens have less access to the information that informs policy decisions. The article quotes a local resident who lost the chance to know that a city councilman was voting on a controversial zoning change, because the city’s only daily paper had closed.

Moreover, the piece references a 2022 study by the Center for Investigative Reporting, which found that areas with no daily newspaper experience a measurable decline in civic participation—lower voter turnout, fewer public comment periods, and a broader spread in political polarization. The loss of a daily voice, the Gazette argues, is akin to erasing a key source of “soft knowledge” that keeps local governments transparent.

Efforts to Reclaim the News Desert

Despite the grim outlook, the article outlines several initiatives aimed at countering the trend. One example is the nonprofit “Community News Network,” which leverages volunteer journalists and grants to produce weekly newsletters in underserved counties. Another initiative mentioned is the “Public Media Hub” launched by a coalition of state legislatures, which provides state‑level funding for community‑owned newsrooms that cover local government and public safety.

The Gazette also highlights the “Citizen Journalism” movement, where residents with smartphones capture footage of local events, which is then curated by a small editorial team. While these models cannot fully replace the depth and investigative capacity of a full‑time newsroom, they illustrate a growing willingness to experiment with hybrid approaches to local journalism.

The Road Ahead

In its conclusion, the article warns that the pace of newspaper closures shows little sign of abating. It points to the COVID‑19 pandemic’s role in accelerating the decline, as advertisers tightened budgets and many communities experienced economic hardship. The Gazette urges policymakers to consider targeted subsidies or tax incentives for local news organizations, as well as increased transparency requirements for companies that own and control news outlets.

Ultimately, the piece frames the decline of local newspapers not merely as a business failure but as a public service crisis. “When a community loses its daily news source, it loses a critical check on power, a forum for shared concerns, and a sense of collective identity,” the article concludes. As news deserts expand, the question remains: will society be willing to pay the price for a less informed and more fragmented citizenry?