Newspapers Struggle

By Carrie Pond

Murray, KY – A leading journalist says Kentucky's rural newspapers are going through one of the worst financial periods in modern times. Rural Journalism Institute Director Al Cross says weathering the internet has been a real challenge, but it pales in comparison to the slowing economy.

"The economic downturn comes at a very crucial time for the newspaper industry. It was in the middle of trying to adjust to the internet. Well now it's got the double-whammy of a big downturn in advertising, and even more so in circulation." Cross says the cost of labor combined with a decreased number of subscriptions is hitting large newspapers hard. He adds in communities with two newspapers, it's possible that the weaker paper will not survive the downturn.