Opinions
Daily Chronicle • www.daily-chronicle.com • Page A11 • Monday, October 7, 2013
8OUR VIEW
8SKETCH VIEW
Celebrate serving our communities
Newspapers still cornerstone of democracy We’ve been calling it the end of an era for a long time now. It’s supposed to be the end of newspapers, according to naysayers who have been predicting their ultimate demise for years. But the facts prove the newspaper industry is growing and transforming rather than dying. Of course, there are always bumps in the road to innovation, but as it turns out, we’re actually in the midst of a promising and exciting time. Top businessmen and investors such as Warren Buffet, John Henry and Jeff Bezos are demonstrating that newspapers are still lucrative investments. And despite gloomy predictions, our circulation revenue is actually rising. We’re experimenting and transforming to match the pace of our innovative and digitally-driven world. Digital and bundled subscriptions accounted for a 5 percent uptick in circulation revenue in 2012 – the first national rise in circulation revenue since 2003. Newspaper content is now ubiquitous, available and accessed on every platform and device. Recent Scarborough research also shows that across all print, digital and mobile platforms, a full 70 percent of U.S. adults read newspaper content each week. That’s more than 164 million adults – 144 million of whom still pick up the print copy.
platform to widen the audience for each story, which can now be taken and repeated, shared, tweeted, condensed and emailed countless times a day. Newspapers have always been the cornerstone of our society, and that did not And despite the common perception that change with the digital revolution. Ever the younger, digitally-native generation since the Philadelphia Evening Post first has abandoned newspapers, this study published the Declaration of Independence, shows quite the opposite. Some 57 percent our newspapers have continued to unite us of young adults, ranging in age from 18 as communities and as a nation. News meto 34, read newspaper content in a given dia connects us through stories, keeping us week. This is a strong indication that the informed on school board decisions, local industry is still a relevant and vital source heroes, national budgets and international of information, even to Millennials, who co- conflict. incidentally also contribute heavily to the The public’s right to know is essential to growth of mobile readership, which jumped preserving our unique American democra58 percent over the last year. cy, and newspapers serve the vital role of The reason for this is simple. With the independent watchdogs – keeping governdeluge of information available on the ments, businesses and other institutions Internet, people of all ages rely heavily on in check. Without a free press that can sources they trust to provide accurate conprotect its sources, American democracy tent and quickly sift fact from fiction. will suffer. Newspapers consistently and reliably The newspaper industry will continue provide the most up-to-date, accurate to innovate and transform with the times, and important news. And our audiences just like any other industry. But one thing recognize this, rating newspapers as the will never change: Our historic promise to most trusted of all media forms in a recent connect, inform, investigate and foster an Nielsen study. While 56 percent say they educated society. trust newspapers, 52 percent trust local TV and only 37 percent trust social media. • Caroline H. Little is president and CEO Today’s technology has only proven how of the Newspaper Association of America, the industry’s largest trade organization. valuable this content is by providing a
VIEWS Caroline Little
What America needs: Defeat of budget games Note how tea party politicians routinely start their remarks with “The American people want.” And what “the American people want” conveniently coincides with their ideological preferences. It would seem that the American people – meaning a massive majority – don’t want this government shutdown. So scrambling Republicans have come up with “modest” and “common-sense” proposals to end the impasse: We can keep the national parks open, they are offering. Also the Department of Veterans Affairs. Let’s just yank the tax on medical devices out of the Affordable Care Act or the requirement for contraception coverage. Simply delay the individual mandate. That’s all we ask, and we’ll reopen the government. What about the panda cam? They forgot the panda cam. The American people love watching Mei Xiang licking her adorable cub at the National Zoo. No government, no panda cam. You see where this is going. And that is why America’s leaders, Democrats and sane Republicans, must drive a stake in the heart of the idea that you can close down the government – and threaten economic meltdown by playing games with the debt ceiling – to win political concessions. Nothing the tea party people demand can’t be had through the normal political process. It happens that a duly elected House and Senate passed Obamacare. And when asked, the U.S. Supreme Court said
VIEWS Froma Harrop it’s cool with it. But if “the American people do not want Obamacare,” to quote Rep. Jim Bridenstine and other Republican radicals, they don’t have to have Obamacare. They can vote more right-wingers into office and do away with it. As the public grows ever testier over the shutdown, tea party extremists bleat more loudly about their “modest” and “common-sense” ideas for restarting the government. Here’s an analogy: Guy opens a restaurant. Mobster barges in demanding $10 a week or the place burns down. Owner says no. Mobster responds in wounded tone, “But $10 is such a modest request.” The more modest the Republican demands, the nuttier they sound. Pious posturing does not alter the fact that we’re viewing an extortion racket. Only unconditional defeat of this tactic can save the principle that you don’t shut down government to get this or that concession. Obama made a serious mistake by negotiating during past trumped-up crises. He’s been strong so far. Here’s a happy ending: Republican House Speaker John Boehner does what he should have long ago, sends a spending
measure to the House to keep government going. It passes with Democratic and pragmatist Republican votes. Party hotheads may well respond by stripping Boehner of his speakership. Boehner can frame his action as a personal sacrifice, a patriotic act to stop the shutdown’s mounting damage – to the economy and to America’s reputation as a serious power. Republicans appalled by these antics can regroup and work to cut down the tea party coalition’s power and size come the next election. They’ve got to take the car keys away. Either that or Republicans will crash in districts with sophisticated electorates. As for the little tea party tyrants, they go on. Defeat is never a problem for them. They can return home blaming their loss on betrayal by “moderate” Republicans. They are martyrs, you see. But by the 2014 elections, the welcome reality of Obamacare will have sunk in, and even these folks probably won’t fight it. They’ll come up with new self-serving claims about “what the American people want.” What Americans need right now is an abject defeat of the idea that government shutdowns offer a respectable forum for negotiations. Pray that Obama stands firm on this.
• Froma Harrop is a member of the Providence Journal editorial board. Follow her on Twitter @fromaharrop.
Letters to the Editor Karen Pletsch – General Manager
Eric Olson – Editor
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Dana Herra – MidWeek Editor dherra@shawmedia.com
Inger Koch – Features Editor ikoch@shawmedia.com
Jillian Duchnowski – News Editor jduchnowski@shawmedia.com
We welcome original letters on public issues. Letters must include the author’s full name, address and day and evening phone numbers. We limit letters to 400 words. We accept one letter per person every 15 days. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity. Email: news@daily-chronicle.com. Mail: Daily Chronicle, Letters to the Editor, 1586 Barber Greene Road, DeKalb, IL 60115. Fax: 815-758-5059.
Newspapers play an important role in communities across America. They provide readers with news and information they need to live informed lives. They offer businesses an opportunity to market their goods and services. They allow people to find places to live, places to work and a place to sell that couch that’s been sitting in the basement. This week is National Newspaper Week, which observes the importance of newspapers to communities large and small. This is the 73rd National Newspaper Week. These days, it seems the week’s name is outdated. Although newspapers continue to serve readers, they do so on platforms beyond paper and ink. According to American Opinion Research, 3.4 million adults in Illinois read a newspaper on Sunday. Add in daily reading habits and those who read online or on a mobile device, and that reach hits 5.5 million Illinoisans. As technology has changed, so have the methods by which newspapers deliver news and information to readers. Readers can now consume news on a computer at work, a smartphone on the train, or a tablet on the couch. If something important happens, many readers receive an email or text message alerting them to read more at the newspaper’s website. Although how people consume the news is evolving, the Daily Chronicle’s commitment to DeKalb County remains unchanged. We are committed to serving our communities to make them better places to live. We accomplish this through our journalism and the marketing solutions we provide to businesses. Whether it’s informing you about a string of robberies on your block or exposing wrongdoing in government in a series of articles, our journalism is relevant to those who call DeKalb County home. We accomplish this through our community involvement. Whether it’s sponsoring and supporting community events or working with organizations on products that help get their message out, it’s important that we are part of the community. We accomplish this through our advertising. Whether it’s a traditional print ad or an ad on our website, mobile or tablet site, businesses are able to reach you and provide goods and services that you need to live your life. Join us as we celebrate National Newspaper Week. It’s not all about ink and paper anymore, but it’s still about the relevant local news and information you need. We’re happy to be a part of your life and serving McHenry County to make it a better place to live.
8 LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY State Sen. Tim Bivins R-45, Dixon 629 N. Galena Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 Phone: 815-284-0045 Fax: 815-284-0207 Email: senatorbivins@grics.net State Sen. Dave Syverson R-35, Rockford 200 S. Wyman St. Suite 302 Rockford, IL 61101 Phone: 815-987-7555 Fax: 815-987-7563 Email: info@senatordavesyverson.com State Rep. Tom Demmer R-90, Dixon 1221 Currency Court Rochelle, IL 61068 Phone: 815-561-3690 Email: tom@tomdemmer.com Website: www.tomdemmer.com State Rep. Robert Pritchard R-70, Hinckley 2600 DeKalb Ave., Suite C Sycamore, IL 60178 815-748-3494 Fax: 815-748-4630 Email: Bob@PritchardStateRep.com Website: www.pritchardstaterep.com DeKalb County Board Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr. Legislative Center 200 N. Main St. Sycamore, IL 60178 Phone: 815-895-7189 Fax: 815-895-7284 Email: jmetzger@dekalbcounty.org Website: www.dekalbcounty.org Gov. Pat Quinn D-Chicago 207 Statehouse Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 800-642-3112 Email: governor@state.il.us Website: www.illinois.gov U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren R-14, Winfield 1797 State Street, Suite A Geneva, IL 60134 Phone: 630-232-7104 Fax: 630-232-7174 427 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C., 20515 Phone: 202-225-2976 Fax: 202-225-0697 Website: hultgren.house.gov U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger R-16, Manteno 628 Columbus Street, Ste. 507 Ottawa, IL 61350 Phone: 815-431-9271 Fax: 815-431-9383 Washington, D.C., office: 1218 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202-225-3635 Fax: 202-225-3521 Website: www.kinzinger.house.gov U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin D-Illinois 309 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-2152 Fax: 202-228-0400 Website: www.durbin.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk R-Illinois 387 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-2854 Fax: 202-228-4611 Website: www.kirk.senate.gov President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 202-456-1111 Website: www.whitehouse.gov
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. – U.S. Bill of Rights, First Amendment