In my final edition of The Southern Argus, I’d like to emphasise the importance of country newspapers and paying for news.
The COVID-19 pandemic substantiated the significance of having access to accurate information.
Current cost-of-living pressures are being felt across the board, as businesses consider introducing cost-cutting measures and consumers enforce budget cuts.
But it is times like these when utilising platforms like your local newspaper is more important than ever.
As part of its rebirth, The Argus has promoted a ‘shop local’ mentality and encouraged increased foot traffic through businesses’ doors across ongoing initiatives.
While this flow may be slowing as many feel the pinch of the current economic climate, having a presence and maintaining that brand awareness is vital, as patrons look out for the best deal or special offers available.
Meanwhile, the entitlement of many online users to free news content is disturbing.
Keyboard warriors are quick to demand the end of paywalls and free access to every online article.
There’s certainly no shortage of free content from mainstream newspapers, blogs and magazines online, but in-between the endless giraffe-related social media posts, surely a demand remains for factual, carefully curated content?
No media source is immune to the way technology has changed the game and disrupted the traditional news cycle.
Financial pressures and increasing costs have certainly impacted the print journalism industry, hence the importance of monetarily supporting original reporting.
By purchasing a local newspaper, you’re funding journalism’s role in the community and are supporting a publication’s mission to keep people informed or accountable and to facilitate important discussions.
Regional newspapers are particularly important to their local communities, as they write stories overlooked by the mainstream media.
Seeing your children in the social section, reading your local sporting match results, being updated on council projects, and finding inspiration from the stories of our unsung heroes are all a special part of what brings a newspaper together.
However, the future of country papers will increasingly depend on consumers paying for news directly, as social media platforms like Facebook and content distributors like Google take the lion’s share of advertising dollars.
When you shop local by subscribing to an online edition or by purchasing a hard copy of our newspaper, you support The Argus family.
And to our already loyal readers, we thank you for that.
While our medium will undoubtedly continue to change to stay relevant in this digital age, it’s certainly worth paying for.
Or will we pay the price of a society without local journalism?