Reprint this editorial from Dean Ridings, CEO of America's Newspapers

Among the liberties enshrined for Americans in our founding documents, freedom of the press stands first among equals. "A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it," wrote James Madison, "is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy — or, perhaps both." For generations, local journalism has been the lifeblood providing citizens the means to acquire the information required for enlightened self-governance. 

Yet today, a perfect storm of economic disruption jeopardizes this proud tradition foundational to our democratic experiment. As digital technology has upended traditional revenue models, many newspapers have struggled to achieve sustainability. This has led to the proliferation of so-called "news deserts" across the land — communities bereft of comprehensive local reporting.

But amid these headwinds, local newspapers have shown remarkable resilience.

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Individuals or organizations interested in donating can find information on our website

Welcome to an introduction of America's Newspapers Foundation, where our commitment to local journalism is rooted in creating a thriving and sustainable media ecosystem. Our vision extends beyond the printed page and encompasses a dynamic landscape where diverse media outlets successfully serve their communities. We hope this introduction will answer any questions you may have about our organization.

America’s Newspapers Foundation is always thankful for any contribution to the mission of our organization. Individuals or organizations interested in donating can find information on our website.

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Making 'Best Of' a Year-Round Revenue and Audience Machine - Thursday, Nov. 30

Your "Best of Ballot" is the top revenue and audience initiative of the year. Don't miss out by only focusing on your "Best Of" for two months out of the year. Join Julie Foley, senior customer success manager at Second Street, to learn how "Best of Ballots" should be a continued celebration that drives success all year long.

Presented by Julie Foley, senior customer success manager at Second Street

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Hearst CT Media to acquire Meriden Record-Journal

After more than a century and a half of independent, family ownership, the Record-Journal announced Monday that it has reached a preliminary sales agreement with Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

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New survey gauges profitability of local media’s digital revenue

A new survey of financial executives pulls back the curtain on just how profitable digital revenue is for local media companies. Conducted by Borrell Associates and the Media Financial Management Association, the survey found that the average EBITDA margin was 32.8% and the average gross margin 41.5%. It also found that, while executives expressed high confidence in the calculations, some expenses associated with digital operations were included.

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Threading the Seattle needle: CEO/Publisher Frank Blethen discusses how the for-profit Times gets donors to support vital reporting

The privately owned, for-profit Seattle Times has turned to donations and grants to support news coverage in areas that don’t yield commercial business revenue, such as homelessness, mental health, education, the arts and in-depth and investigative reporting. At the same time, the Times has become a national leader in building digital circulation, including high-market penetration with young adults.

Yet the shift of advertising dollars to a few digital companies has upended the news business model so completely that CEO/Publisher Frank Blethen argues that public policy support is necessary to sustain a free press, to fill news deserts and to inform citizens in a way that sustains democracy. He explains why in an exchange with Medill’s Penelope Abernathy that has been edited for length and clarity.

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