Saturday, Oct. 7, marks the end of this year’s National Newspaper Week.

Since 1940, the Newspaper Association Managers have sponsored an annual celebration of newspapers as a way to remind readers exactly what their local newspapers have to offer.

It’s easy for some people to dismiss what local newspapers offer, especially as there are regularly stories about how more and more local papers are closing, leaving some communities without any local news coverage. And there are major challenges facing papers of all sizes across the nation.

But there is plenty of good news — if you’ll pardon the expression — about the state of local papers.

The 2023 Local Newspaper Study, done by research firm Coda Ventures for the industry group America’s Newspapers, has a good summary of why newspapers still matter in local communities.

“Every day, Americans rely on local news to stay informed about important events affecting their lives,” the study states. “But local newspapers provide more than just the news. They are a catalyst that helps define the culture of a community.”

And that’s shown by results of the study. It found that nearly 220 million Americans, or about 80% of the population, read a local newspaper in print or online at least once a month.

Respondents also thought local newspapers were more accurate than other local news sources, and almost three quarters think it’s important to have a local newspaper provide information about their community.

Newspaper readers come from all demographics, also. The main difference between older and younger readers isn’t the content they’re looking for, but how they like to get their news.

That’s why local papers, including the Butler Eagle, are always looking for new ways to share the stories we produce, from the print edition to our website and multiple social media platforms.

We hope you’ll join in celebrating National Newspaper Week with us this year, and for many years to come.

— JK