“After two newspapers that were older than ours, the Rocky Mountain News and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
folded within the past month, it’s clearer than ever that a proud past
doesn’t ensure a prosperous future. We are feeling the same pressures
as all newspaper companies. In fact, beyond the national economic
problems and the industry turmoil, our community is reeling from a historic disaster. Our company is cutting its staff from about 600 before the flood to about 500. I had to tell 14 journalists last month that their jobs were eliminated. But whatever turmoil our products face, the demand for content is stronger than ever.”

Steve Buttry, the information content conductor for Gazette Communications, reflects on newspaper closures and the importance of content in surviving the recession.