The News Media

After decades of newspaper decline, all American news media are struggling in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic recession. By curtailing or shuttering millions of businesses, the pandemic has further reduced the advertising revenue that publications rely on to survive. This has forced thousands of news organizations to cut staff, reduce production schedules or even close. Hedge funds are increasingly taking over failing newspapers and gutting their operations in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy. Amid these setbacks, journalists are scrambling to cover a tsunami of news produced by the pandemic, racial unrest and a presidential campaign that many consider the most important in generations. These challenges, according to media experts, hold profound implications for both the health of American journalism and the durability of American democracy, which depends on journalists to keep citizens informed. Some experts see glimmers of hope: Public hunger for news has boosted readership, and news organizations are finding novel sources of revenue, such as charitable donations.