While we may, from time to time, lament the apparent dysfunction of our local and national political systems, at least we have regular information sources that helps us to understand what’s going on.
But what if there weren’t numerous, vetted, reliable sources to tell us what’s going on? What if there were no intrepid reporters, editors, and overseers with principles, morals and ethics to provide basic facts regularly? Well, you’d have to rely on misinformation that runs rampant on the internet, sometimes selling itself as credible and reliable, even if it’s Russian hacks. You’d probably have to listen to even more vacuous, roundtable pundits argue and pat themselves on the backs on slanted cable channels, desperate to feed the insatiable 24-hour news beast. Your Millenial or Post-Millenial kids might tell you they “saw something” online, and thus it must be revered in near biblical, absolute terms. “That’ll never happen”, you say. Or “who cares?”
Ah, but beware what you accept, even begrudgingly, as so-called “media modernization”. When the Honolulu City Council meets, who’s keeping an eye on your tax dollars? If no one factually updates us on issues concerning OHA, Mauna Kea, homelessness, fallen trees, et al., how will you stay in touch, informed, and aware?
Estimates are that over 1,500 daily and weekly newspapers have folded since 2005. We see constant media cutbacks (i.e.- fewer reporters) and mergers. The paid subscriber model for online, “quality” news doesn’t currently support an infrastructure that ensures thorough, local coverage of our communities.
Honolulu has a daily newspaper, plus MidWeek and four local TV entities covering daily news, and there’s local radio coverage on the four major island islands. But what happens if/when small town, unbiased voices go away? Who will keep an eye on things in Lihue, Hilo, or Kahului? We’ve already seen small towns no longer blessed with local news coverage- and (not surprisingly) taxes, shenanigans, and government bills go up.
Surveys show that people have greater trust in their local news institutions than in national news entities. But trust alone doesn’t pay the bills to keep reporters reporting and to help guarantee that we have journalists in the future… I mean, besides little Jimmy writing his blog or tweeting from his mom’s dimly-lit basement every day. Ponder the future without quality reporting or daily news information, and it’s neither a pretty picture or story.
Think about it…