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After reading the many views on our President's speech concerning US Intelligence and Russia I was pleased to find a story that gives me hope for the future of newspapers.
Tuesday, 19 members of Congress testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) that tariffs on Canadian newsprint will increase costs for newspapers so much that the newspapers will have no choice but to cut staff. Rep. Bill Flores went so far as to say that tariffs are "kicking us very hard when we are already in a time of historic lows in revenues."
It is being predicted that the increased cost will force some newspapers to close, killing quality coverage of communities.
It is estimated that newspapers and the printing industry employ over 600,000 people. Newsprint is the second highest cost for newspapers right behind personnel.
Nationally some daily papers have already cut staff.
While the President feels tariffs will protect domestic newsprint producers it won't make much difference if newspapers start going out of business.
Rep. Beto O'Rourke gave newspapers a vote of confidence when he said, "Given the challenges to newspapers today, the fact they are described by the President as the enemy of the people, let's not do more to hurt them."
In other words, don't allow the newsprint tariffs.