Major Newspaper Closures in the Midwest: A Devastating Blow to Local Communities

Midwest Communities Reeling as News Media Corp. Closes 31 Local Newspapers

Sioux Falls, S.D. — In a shocking announcement that has left dozens of communities in the Midwest and West reeling, News Media Corp. (NMC) declared the abrupt closure of 31 local newspapers due to severe financial difficulties. The Illinois-based publisher, which has long touted itself as “the voice of small-town America,” will shutter operations across five states, including Wyoming, Illinois, Arizona, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

The closures, which affect 14 newspapers in Wyoming, seven in Illinois, five in Arizona, four in South Dakota, and one in Nebraska, exacerbate the growing issue of news deserts in rural America. For many small towns, these newspapers have served as the primary source of local news, community events, and public discourse.

In a letter to staff, NMC CEO J.J. Tompkins cited a significant economic downturn, revenue losses, and rising expenses as key factors leading to the decision. “Unfortunately, we have reached a point where continuing business is no longer feasible,” he wrote.

The impact of the closures is immediate and profound. Hundreds of employees were terminated without warning, leaving many journalists and staff grappling with uncertainty about their futures. Benjamin Chase, managing editor of the Huron Plainsman in South Dakota, expressed his disbelief on social media, stating, “No one in Huron, nor any of the other papers, knew this was coming today. We’re all in shock and attempting to figure out how to move forward.”

Josh Linehan, managing editor of the Brookings Register, echoed similar sentiments, attributing the closure to “poor corporate management” amid an already challenging landscape for print media. “It’s no secret that it’s tough times out there for all print media, and we’re no exception,” he wrote in a letter to readers.

Local leaders are also voicing their concerns. Brookings Mayor Ope Niemeyer lamented the loss of his town’s newspaper, calling it a “big hole in the community.” He emphasized the importance of local journalism in fostering conversations and keeping residents informed. “It brings the community together,” he said. “It’s an entity that’s going to be irreplaceable.”

The decline of local newspapers is not a new phenomenon. According to the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University, the U.S. has lost over one-third of its print newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2004. Teri Finneman, a journalism professor at the University of Kansas, pointed to a complex web of issues, including an outdated business model, declining populations in rural areas, and a lack of public willingness to pay for local news.

“This really needs to be a wake-up call to every town in this nation that your newspaper could be at risk as well,” Finneman warned. “It is incumbent upon people to start supporting their newspapers through subscriptions and advertising if we are going to keep critical news in these communities.”

In a glimmer of hope amid the turmoil, the Sioux Falls-based Dakota Scout newspaper announced plans to expand its coverage in Brookings in response to the closures, aiming to fill the void left by NMC’s abrupt exit.

As communities grapple with the loss of their local newspapers, the future of journalism in rural America hangs in the balance, raising urgent questions about the sustainability of local news and the vital role it plays in fostering informed and connected communities.