Alexandria, VA – Jason Stverak, President of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a leading national non-profit journalism organization, released the following statement regarding the news that US newspaper circulation is down 5 percent. Figures released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average daily circulation fell 5 percent in the April-September period, compared with the same period a year earlier.
“It comes as no surprise that traditional news businesses and newspapers are struggling. The decline in newspaper circulation is not the result of failed journalism or lack of demand by citizens for local and state news. It is the result of media business leaders’ failure to adapt to new market realities.
And while newspaper circulations and ad revenues are plummeting, a June 2010 Pew Report found that roughly a third (34%) of the public say they went online for news and 44% of Americans say they got news through one or more internet or mobile digital source. Both of these statistics are considerably higher than those who said they turned to their local newspaper for their news coverage.
Newspapers have to do something to stay afloat, but their current approach and the reoccurring practice of charging for online content is not the answer. Instead newspapers should return to their roots of pure public service by partnering with non-profits and citizen groups to produce and publish the news Americans need now more than ever.
Collaboration between non-profits and newspapers has proven to produce terrific, low cost content that is changing the conversation in the media, politics, and in households around the nation.”
