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A newspaper with the headline Local News Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Peninsula’s hometown company, Google, announced last week that it earned $65.52 billion in advertising revenue in the 4th quarter of 2023, 76% of its total revenue.

During this same 3-month period, several local news organizations struggled to keep their doors open. We all learned in civics class that a healthy democracy requires a robust and free press.

What benefit do Peninsula residents receive in exchange for the slowly ebbing viability of our local press caused by this massive shift of ad revenue to non-news organizations?

We are Silicon Valley.

Since we invented the problem, shouldn’t we be able to invent a solution?

Kaia Eakin, Redwood City

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2 Comments

  1. There’s no “lack of news” or “lack of a free press” etc. Like many mediums, “News” comes digitally; not on paper. Get used to it!

    1. The important part of newspaper is news, not paper. There would be no problem if print reporters simply switched to online and brought ad dollars with them.

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