“The decline of the free press hurts democracy”
* By The Seattle Times editorial board:
“With America’s democracy threatened by foreign disinformation campaigns, voter apathy and deepening political divides, the last thing it needs is further erosion of its free press.
“Yet now the nation’s two largest newspaper chains, GateHouse Media and Gannett, are poised to merge.
“Although little can be done to stop this deal, it’s time for a movement to protect the free press through policy reforms, public education and an emphasis on local stewardship.”
“Local news coverage saw a devastating plunge over the last decade. Newsroom employment fell by nearly half, from 71,000 to 38,000 from 2008 to 2018. At least 1,800 newspapers closed altogether since 2004.”
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