Industry experts predict that the tariffs will lead to significant price increases for newsprint. These financial burdens come as print advertising revenue continues to plummet. Many newspapers have already announced layoffs and implemented plans to reduce newsprint consumption, which may include cutting back on distribution or local news coverage. This shift disproportionately affects seniors relying on print editions for their news.

Higher prices and limited supplies create a crisis for small-town and rural newspapers. This will result in job losses and less access to news coverage. Some community and rural newspapers may have to shut their doors, leaving news deserts in their local area. Once a paper shuts down, it does not come back.

Recent research from the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University underscores the situation’s urgency. Between late 2019 and May 2022, the U.S. lost an average of two newspapers per week, leaving around 70 million people without access to local news.

If current trends persist, a third of all newspapers in the country could vanish in 2025. This decline isn’t just a business concern; studies have linked newspaper closures to reduced civic engagement, increased government waste, and heightened political polarization.

The Fullerton Observer has already received news about the rate increase. In 2021, we saw the price of paper increase by 3-4%. Another increase is not something our current ad and subscription rate revenue can cover.

To offset this, the Fullerton Observer print issue will go from 20 pages to 12 pages and focus more complete coverage on the website. We know accessing the website can be difficult for some older patrons, so we will continue to print the most critical information in the hard copy for as long as possible.

Please write to the Fullerton Observer at PO Box 7051, Fullerton, CA 92834, and let us know what is the most important information to you and your favorite thing about the paper. Your voice matters.

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