As we continue to experience the effects of the most unprecedented events of recent years, we regularly turn to a number of sources to wrap our heads around it all. Some of us might read The New York Times; others may tune in to the Fox News Channel. No matter the platform, news giants like these play a substantial role in keeping us informed.
These news giants cover the aggregate — what’s happening across the country at large. However, we’re individual people with individual lives. Where does the demand for individual information find its supplier? Your local newspaper.
Local newspapers cover the events of a community and the people within it. They can keep a close eye on city politics that might go unchecked and explain the sirens you heard the night before. They can bring the community together through shared common ground.
Despite their importance, daily and weekly newspapers are vanishing. More than 1/4 of the United States’ newspapers have closed since 2004, according to the Knight Foundation.
It’s no secret, though, that how we consume the news has changed from even as recently as 20 years ago. So even as times change, local news like The Tiger continues to remain relevant, expanding onto new platforms and innovating with new angles of stories.
Curious about how many minor in possession charges there were downtown last weekend? We’ve got that count for you. Did you know Clemson had an ice hockey team? The Tiger’s covering it.
Next week (Oct. 2-8) is National Newspaper Week. Thank you for your continued support of The Tiger – your local, campus newspaper.
However, the next time you are at a store here in Clemson or back home, I encourage you to grab a copy of the local paper. Your support will ensure that the essential work of a local paper can continue, and you might learn something new about your community along the way.
David Ferrara is a senior economics and philosophy major from Shelton, Connecticut. You can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter, @davidferrara23.