The Voice of San Diego and the Times of San Diego, coupled with the online versions of the local TV news, seem to do a pretty good job of covering what is going on in our region. One thing I particularly like is that some of the organizations regularly hold community meetings to discuss what is going on, their coverage and what is of interest to the community. That never happened with traditional news organizations.
— Bruce Higgins, San Diego
The Greensboro News & Record was my local paper. While it hasn’t closed, it is a mere shadow of its former self. It is now owned by a division of Berkshire Hathaway.
It barely covers national or even state news. The obits and church news still get covered well. The sections that used to focus on surrounding counties were eliminated years ago. It is harder to even find a copy in public places like stores. I only buy the Sunday paper these days.
— Sandi Campbell, Randolph County, N.C.
The demise of print
Our town’s weekly, The Concord Journal, increasingly prints handouts and rarely covers anything you might call local news reporting. Many hot issues don’t see print. And now our weekly includes another town, Lincoln, further diminishing its local aspect. I subscribe but finish reading it in about two minutes because there is nothing there.
— Judith Hill, Concord, Mass.
Our paper hasn’t closed yet, but the Pittsburgh Post Gazette began publishing only three days a week in September. I am retired, as is my husband. His day begins with reading the paper — not online, but sitting in his chair and reading every single word. I don’t know if he will ever read it online. And I know many people feel the same way. It will soon be a lost art — reading at leisure, at the kitchen table, talking about local happenings.
— Barb Krause, Pittsburgh
First, the Birmingham Post-Herald ceased print publication. Several years afterward, the more widely read Birmingham News was bought and went from seven days to three days a week before finally ceasing publication.
I miss the social page (brides), the comics and the local sports with photos of the hero of the game. I miss the continuity of following a crime from its reporting to its conclusion. I miss the page of letters to the editor. All these things made it “our” paper, not just a paper.
— Sally Speaker, Birmingham, Ala.