Does it concern me?

“ The Cincinnati Enquirer will cut the number of days it runs classified ads, switch to a narrower page-format and condense some of its sections in an effort to reduce costs as advertisers spend less.” In a Sunday front-page letter to readers, Cincinnati Enquirer Publisher Margaret Buchanan detailed the steps the daily paper plans to make in order to use less newsprint and ink, its second-largest expense. She cited difficult economic conditions for the changes.

Does it concern me when I read:

Kentucky's largest newspaper says it has reduced the size of some of its sections in print editions. ?? The Courier-Journal told readers in its print edition on Monday that it will no longer have a separate business section for Monday through Saturday editions. Business news will appear in the Metro section. On Tuesday through Saturday, there will be two pages dedicated to business news in the Metro.??Classified advertising sections have been dropped for the Monday and Tuesday editions, and the Features section "will be tightened." A new four-page "Weekend" section will replace Friday's "Extra" pullout section. ?? The front-page notice says the changes were to ensure the paper "remains healthy and able to continue serving this community for the long-term future."

Sure it concerns me, but what would scares the heck out of me is the thought that if a newspaper, as an industry, has to cut back further, due to an economic crisis, and just where will people be able to get news. Maybe from individual bloggers who can post anything, incognito of course, and not have to have a valid fact to back it up.

You can tear this newspaper or any newspaper apart, all you want. Laugh at typos, complain if your kid’s sport isn’t covered, judge the judgment of editors, rake reporters over the coals and use words like jerks, that rag or they never get anything right.

But then give yourself five minutes, just five minutes to really use your God given brain and think about what our local community society would be like if there was not a local newspaper. Does it concern you?

Now, don’t go starting any rumors, The Leader-Herald is just fine. We have loyal and longtime subscribers and advertiser who know and support the value of a local newspaper.