The Pioneer Press recently celebrated its 175th anniversary, which made me think about how much the world of journalism has changed in my lifetime. Does anyone remember life before the internet, when a handful of TV stations, newspapers and radio stations were our only options for getting news? In the mid-1990s, many of these news outlets started putting their content online for free. That was a pivotal moment.

The days of appointment-based news consumption (watching the 10 p.m. news or reading the morning paper in print) started gradually fading, as people could access news in real time online. I worked in TV news from 2004-2008, and it was a confusing time for the industry. Ratings were slipping, social media was becoming widespread and we didn’t know what to make of it. The future of one of America’s most precious industries was uncertain.

I describe journalism as precious because freedom of the press is a constitutional right and critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. But while journalism is protected by the First Amendment, it is still a business that needs funding to stay afloat. Traditionally, the great majority of revenue for U.S. news organizations came from advertising. In recent years, many advertising dollars have shifted from traditional news outlets to tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Amazon.

The result? Nearly 3,000 American newspapers have closed over the past 20 years. The number of newspapers in Minnesota has dropped 34% since 2005, and the number of newspaper reporters in Minnesota has shrunk by 64% over the same period.

Do you value having a local media outlet in your hometown? I do. When I was a TV reporter in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I can remember city councilmembers sitting up straighter in their seats – and being more civil to their colleagues – when my cameraman and I entered public meetings.

My current hometown of New Brighton’s newspaper closed in 2019. Since then, it’s been much more difficult to find information about city projects and initiatives, candidates running for school board and city council, community events, high school sports scores, and more. The only thing remotely close to replacing the information I used to get in the local newspaper is a neighborhood Facebook group. And let’s face it, that’s not close at all. The lack of local media frustrates elected officials too, because informing their constituents is more difficult than ever.

Of course, no businesses are guaranteed success. Their continued existence is not a right, nor a given. All enterprises, local newspapers included, are obliged to adapt to a changing marketplace and figure out how to compete.

But a newspaper celebrating 175 years of consistently delivering daily news should not be taken for granted. The Pioneer Press has had its share of ups and downs. Its newsroom staff is lean, but the reporters who are there are passionate about journalism, and they work their tails off. I know because as a public relations guy, I pitch stories to them almost daily.

Given the state of journalism, let’s take a moment to imagine Saint Paul without the Pioneer Press. I believe that Saint Paul needs a thriving news organization to thrive. Please join me in celebrating, congratulating and supporting the Pioneer Press – so that they can continue to inform us for the next 175 years.

Chris Duffy is a principal and vice president of public relations at the Saint Paul-based public relations and public affairs agency Goff Public.

Related Articles

Real World Economics: Life mimics art for 3M’s PFAS cases

Skywatch: Summer is coming — it’s in the stars

Your Money: How the financial adviser’s role has evolved

Soucheray: A tough job to do when too many in the political class are against you

Real World Economics: North Star Promises benefits all of us