Closure of newspapers in Midwestern states leaves many communities without news

• The closure of newspapers worsens access to news in small towns
• Financial difficulties lead to mass layoffs of workers
• Society must support local media for their survival

SIUKS-Falls, South Dakota (AP) — A coalition of communities in Midwestern and Western regions announced on Thursday that they have lost their newspapers following the publisher's decision in Illinois due to financial problems.

News Media Corp., which owns local newspapers in five states, reported the closure of 14 operations in Wyoming, seven in Illinois, five in Arizona, four in South Dakota, and one in Nebraska.

This closure highlights the problem of news absence in rural areas, especially since many of these newspapers were the main sources of information for small towns.

The closure is the result of prolonged financial difficulties for local newspapers. Since 2004, the U.S. has lost more than one-third of its daily newspapers and two-thirds of journalism jobs. The publisher noted that economic difficulties, declining revenues, and rising operating costs led to this decision.

The general director of the company J.J. Tompkins stated in a letter to employees that the closure was inevitable following unsuccessful attempts to sell the company.

Many workers have been laid off, and the company promised to create "reasonable arrangements" to pay for the wages they earned.

Editors of the newspapers expressed shock and disappointment regarding the news. Benjamin Chase, editor of the Huron Plainsman, mentioned that he did not know about the closure beforehand.

Mayor Brukings Opie Niemeyer stated that the closure of the local newspaper leaves "a significant void" in the community, which undermines access to legal notices.

Less than a year ago, Brukings lost news coverage in the local radio station, leaving only the newspaper as a source of information.

On the heels of these closures, the Dakota Scout newspaper from Sioux Falls announced plans to expand its coverage in Brukings.

Tags: USA