Our View: Young People Will Write The Future Of Local News

What’s the biggest threat to independent local newspapers?

 Unfortunately, there are a few contenders to that sad title. There’s a lagging economy, corporate greed, the uptick in frivolous lawsuits, and increasingly the government’s effort to control the free press. But in the long term, there’s a factor that’s even more frightening to us.

 Young people need to see the relevance and value of independent local news. And that can seem like a hard sell.

 Admittedly, there weren’t many of us who paid attention to hometown newspapers when we were teenagers. But as we matured, entered the workforce or began to have families, we felt the pull of the local paper. We’d check the paper for job opportunities, for apartments to rent, for information on local businesses, and to see our kids’ names in the honor roll or on the sports pages. 

 Those things are still a draw to young readers, but there’s something new in the mix. Today’s young adults are digital natives, accustomed to getting information from social media, YouTube videos and podcasts. And often, they don’t spend much time considering the difference between that kind of information and actual journalism. That’s not a reproach of young people. If anything, it means we’re not working hard enough to find a way to reach and inspire young people.

 Here’s what we are doing, though. First, we report on issues that are critical to young people, like housing, education and hunger. Next, we provide robust coverage of the schools in our area, including sports coverage that we’re very proud of. (We know that our stories have a “fridge factor” for parents, that is, they like to post clippings of their kids on the refrigerator.) We’ve also greatly expanded our presence on social media, leveraging the creativity of some of our younger staff members to make sure we’re posting content that’s relevant and engaging. We’ve got a mobile-friendly website, knowing that most of us are using our phones to stay connected.

 What more can be done? If you can think of a strategy we’ve missed, email us at editor@capecodchronicle.com. But here’s one thing that can help: modeling local news consumption.

 As parents and grandparents, we can make sure the young people in our lives know why independent local news is relevant to our lives. We can talk about local politics and events and strike up a dialogue with our younger peers about the issues important to them. We can encourage them to share their opinions in our letters page and contact us to share their achievements and activities. 

 Together we can make sure that local news is as relevant to the next generation as it is to our own — and that will help ensure the future of independent, local journalism.