Continuing to celebrate National Newspaper Week

Maybe an editorial on National Newspaper Week, one of the annual opportunities to promote newspapers as the number one media that connects communities, should read like an ephitat. “Here lies the highly-missed and much-maligned local newspaper.“ Perhaps. But probably not.

National Newspaper Week, recognized this year from Oct. 5-11, bears the theme “Newspapers ... still going strong.“ That theme may seem overly optimistic. Perhaps. But probably not.

As one S.C. newspaper consultant and co-owner said in an opinion piece about newspapers “Newspapers aren’t going the way of the hula hoop.“ Jerry Bellune, from Lexington, said “The news is bad ... Gas is at $4 a gallon ... real estate market is in the tank. Retailing is reeling ... Who isn’t feeling it?“

He went on to say he doesn’t believe newspapers are going the way of the hula hoop, which, by the way, often is seen resurgencing when least expected, and in the strangest places. For starters, he said, he’s still interested in what’s happening in “my county, my town and my neighborhood.“ Bellune continues “Without the local newspaper, how am I going to find out if the rumor is true ... there’s a head lice infestation in the local schools ... The local newspaper will tell me ...“

From birth, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements through to obituaries, newspapers are there, recording the everyday events in a community’s life. From tax increases, through tough times and in prosperity, newspapers are there chronicling history as it happens. Bellune reminds us all that “When radio first became popular, a lot of people said, ‘Well, that will be the end of newspapers.‘ Then TV came along and a lot more people said, ‘Well, that will be the end of newspapers.‘ Then the Internet came along and even more people said, ‘Well, that will be the end of newspapers.‘ I’ll bet that when the next wave of communications technology comes along, they’ll be singing that same song.“

For those with perspective and a memory, history has continuously changed the look, feel, design, frequency and distribution of newspapers. But they are still here.

Are they changing? Perhaps, again. Are they dead? Probably not.

Amongst the changing it is important to note that some say newspapers are one key to preserving our democracy. Though “the media,“ is thought by many to be untrustworthy, unfair, inaccurate or biased, it is also known to be trustworthy, fair, accurate, unbiased, along with informative, interesting, entertaining and enlightening. Newspapers, and their dang reporters and editors, are “boots on the ground,“ continuously helping to discover what is going on around us.

Are newspapers changing. Probably. Are they dying? Perhaps not.

As one advertisement in one local newspaper said this past week, “Newspapers sell ... they don’t just tell. Newspapers are an effective tool for reaching mass markets. “Good news,“ the ad said “is here in black and white ...“

Sometimes, newspapers report things that leaders and readers wish they didn’t. Sometimes, people wish newspapers would die. Most probably, in some way, shape and form, they will remain a thorn in all our sides. “Newspapers ... still going strong.“