National Newspaper Week: A reflection

“Strong local journalism is essential to a strong community.”— Public Relations Society of America’s Thoroughbred Chapter, as reported by The Lane Report

13 journalists laid off at the Lexington Herald-Leader

“Today is a dark day for Kentucky communities that rely on a robust and fearless news media. These cuts should alarm all Kentuckians who want to know how their government operates and tax dollars are spent. “—Board of the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, as reported by WEKU

“leaves the Herald-Leader with just two reporters who cover city and state government.” —WEKU

“We have watched newsrooms shrink, experienced journalists lose their jobs, positions go unfilled, and remaining reporters, photographers, editors, producers, anchors, and other journalists asked to do more with fewer resources. Taken together, they represent something larger that should concern all of us: the continued erosion of the local journalism infrastructure our communities depend upon.” —PRSA, as reported by The Lane Report.

“Fewer

reporters mean fewer questions asked. Fewer meetings covered. Fewer stories told. Fewer institutions scrutinized. And fewer opportunities for people to understand the decisions, challenges, accomplishments, and individuals shaping the communities they call home.” —PRSA, as reported by The Lane Report. 

“(McClatchy) launched a new tool that can summarize articles and create different versions for different audiences, which received heavy pushback from journalists in their newsrooms.” —WEKU

“Technology cannot replace the human judgment at the heart of credible journalism: the reporter who asks the follow-up question, the editor who challenges an assumption, the photographer who documents what is happening in our community, or the journalist who has spent years developing the relationships and institutional knowledge necessary to understand not simply what happened, but why it matters.” 

— PRSA, as reported by The Lane Report. 

“As an elected official, I want the media watching and holding me accountable. When we lose that source of external accountability, it allows elected officials, it allows politicians and people with wealth, power, and influence to operate unchecked.” — Lexington Fourth-District council member Emma Curtis, as reported by WKYT. 

“Journalism at its best holds power to account, sheds light on corruption, and equips us with necessary information to make the most informed decisions in our communities. Gutting one of Kentucky’s oldest and largest legacy newsrooms fully threatens our ability to do that and should be concerning to everyone.” —Alex Acquisto, one of the 13 journalists recently laid off by the Herald-Leader, quoted by WEKU

“the status quo no longer works and the company cannot continue investing where subscriber interest does not support,” WEKU report, talking about an email from McClatchy shared with the reporter by Alex Acquisto. 

“it sort of feels like the beginning of the end.” —Alex Acquisto, one of the 13 journalists recently laid off by the Herald-Leader,” quoted by WEKU

“The only security of all is in a free press.” — Thomas Jefferson