Smalltown newspapers like ours continue to survive, providing things others are not. This includes sporting events, local governmental meetings and civic group announcements.
In so many ways, smalltown newspapers still provide a service.
This past week was “National Newspaper Week”, and I doubt many people in the New River Valley even knew it.
The News Messenger and News Journal are newspapers of, by and for the people of Montgomery County and the City of Radford.
Many people do not even know the News Messenger side of the two was established in 1869, making it the area’s longest running business. The Radford News Journal was established in 1884.
In a 2022, the State of Local News Project predicted that by the end of 2025, the United States would have lost one-third of its print newspapers over the past two decades. In this year’s report, the group found that the country has already exceeded that mark. A little fewer than 5,600 newspapers remain, 80% of which are weeklies.
Yes, over the years, the News Messenger and News Journal were daily newspapers. Of course, that changed to two days a week to now’s Wednesday only.
Newspaper employment has continued to decline.
From 2022 to 2023, newsroom jobs – mostly reporters and editors – decreased by almost 2,000 positions while newspaper employment overall shrank by more than 7,000 jobs, compared to the few hundred lost in the previous year. There are now fewer than 100,000 people employed in the newspaper publishing industry overall, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 20 U.S. states, there are fewer than 1,000 newspaper employees remaining.
Since 2005, overall circulation has decreased by more than 75 million, or more than 60%.
The recent reports say the newspaper industry has shrunk dramatically since 2005; over the past two decades, more than 3,300 newspapers have ceased printing. A small number of these have successfully transitioned to digital-only operations.
I am old school and miss the days of “wedding and engagement announcements.” Of course, these two local newspapers included many former column writers. One of the most memorable ones was the late Charlie Fretwell, who was one of the reasons I moved back to the area.
Fretwell would present me with several booklets with his printed columns, all after the closure of his bookstore in downtown Radford.
There was also Thora Jervey who had her own opinion to share with readers.
But through all of this, the idea of online newspapers is slowing claiming subscribers. I don’t know about you, but I like having a printed publication in my hands. I also like having a book in my hand, sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee. Listening to audio books and looking online simply is not the same.
I have personally written in one form or another since 1984, and yes, I am biased. I appreciate having a local newspaper to continue providing my opinion on a lot of things. I also see it as a service to provide information on area youngsters through the local sports pages.
I’m sorry that things have changed and eliminated hometown newspapers. Growing up in Wytheville, all that I knew was the Southwest Virginia Enterprise, where I got my start covering George Wythe High School football.
A few years ago, I had the honor of being recognized by the Radford City School Board and the Virginia School Board Association for the longtime coverage of the board. Ironically, it was a Radford school board meeting, which I wrote my first story for the News Journal.
So many great writers and newspaper owners have gone before me, and I appreciate the road they paved to get me to where I am today.
Thank you for this moment to step back in time and remember why you are reading this column today. Now back to reality. Just don’t forget there is a printed version of local news that keeps you, and kept those before you, informed.
Again, keeping you up-to-date for 156 years in one form or another.