Steve Strickbine, president of Times Media Group, has issued a message regarding the importance of independent local journalism and the financial mechanisms that support it. The publication, known as the Queen Creek Tribune, operates under the Times Media Group umbrella.
Strickbine notes that the landscape of news consumption has shifted significantly. While national and global information is widely accessible, independent reporting at the community level has diminished. Researchers describe areas lacking this coverage as news deserts, where residents may not immediately recognize the absence of regular reporting on local government, schools, and community events.
The president explains that producing quality local journalism requires resources. The process involves reporters attending meetings, editors verifying facts, photographers documenting events, designers assembling editions, and delivery teams distributing the content. These activities incur real costs for the organization.
According to Strickbine, the sustainability of these publications relies heavily on local businesses. Some newspapers are supported primarily through reader subscriptions, while others depend on advertising revenue. In the latter model, local companies invest in the community by purchasing ads, which allows residents to receive the news without direct charge.
The message urges readers to acknowledge this support. Strickbine asks that when customers visit advertisers featured in the publication, they mention seeing the ad and thank the business for its contribution to local information flow. He suggests that choosing to do business with these companies helps determine whether communities maintain strong, independent journalism or fall into the category of news deserts.
