Why We Charge for News — and Why It Matters

From time to time, we hear a fair question from readers: Why do we have to pay for news?

It is a reasonable question, especially in an era when so much information appears to be free online. But the truth is simple — and important. Local journalism is not free to produce. It is a service, a profession, and yes, a business.

We believe it is important to explain that openly and transparently.

Like any local business, we pay taxes. We employ local people. We invest in equipment, technology, printing, and distribution. We cover rising costs for paper, postage, insurance, and fuel. We maintain offices, support community initiatives, and show up — day after day — to cover the meetings, decisions, and events that shape our community.

And we do all of this without government funding.

We are proud of that independence. It allows us to report without obligation to political entities or outside interests. Our responsibility is to our readers and to the truth — not to a funding source.

But independence also means sustainability must come from the community we serve.

That is why we charge for news.

We have tried to strike a balance. Each month, readers can access three articles at no cost. Breaking news is always free, because in moments of urgency — severe weather, emergencies, major developments — the public deserves immediate access to reliable information. Obituaries are free because they serve a vital community function, helping families share news of loss and remembrance.

Beyond that, the subscription helps support the work behind the headlines.

Every story requires time, training and accountability. Reporters attend meetings, during the day and evenings, that can stretch for hours. They verify facts, return phone calls, review documents and follow up on details. Editors check accuracy and ensure fairness. Photographers capture the moments that define our community. Press operators print the paper. Customer service representatives assist subscribers.

And distribution itself carries real costs. We pay the U.S. Postal Service to deliver newspapers to homes across our region, and we employ local contractors who distribute newspapers to stores and community locations for single-copy sales.

None of that happens by accident — and none of it happens without cost.

There is another reality we must acknowledge — one that is unique to our situation.

Today, we are the only remaining locally owned and operated daily newspaper in the state of Michigan.

That is a point of pride, but it also carries responsibility. Decisions about coverage, priorities and community investment are made here — by people who live here, work here and care deeply about this region. We are not managed from another state or directed by a distant corporate office. We are accountable to our neighbors.

But remaining independent also means we do not have the economies of scale that large media chains enjoy. We must stand on our own.

Many people assume that online advertising makes up the difference. While digital advertising does provide some incremental income, the reality is that it would never come close to covering the cost of producing local news.

Digital ads generate pennies where print ads once generated dollars. Technology companies and social media platforms capture the majority of online advertising revenue, even though local news organizations continue to do the work of reporting, verifying and publishing information that those platforms distribute.

In short, advertising alone — especially online advertising — cannot sustain local journalism.

Reader support has become essential.

If local newspapers do not cover local news, very often no one else will.

National media organizations do not attend township board meetings. They do not cover school board budgets, zoning decisions, road closures, or high school sports. Their focus is often on national issues, political debates and stories that affect large regions or entire countries.

Local newspapers are different.

While national or large enterprise news organizations can sometimes become highly political — leaning left or right depending on the outlet — almost all of the news we cover is not red or blue. It is local. It is practical. It is non-partisan. It is the kind of information that affects each and every one of us, regardless of political belief.

We report on how tax dollars are spent in our community.

We cover decisions that affect local schools and public safety.

We tell the stories of local businesses, families, farmers and students.

We provide information people need to live their daily lives.

That is not partisan work. It is community work.

And when it comes to local journalism, the phrase “fake news” simply does not apply. Our reporters live here. Our editors live here. Our readers know us. If we make a mistake, we correct it — publicly and transparently. Our credibility depends on accuracy, fairness and trust earned over time.

Local journalism is grounded in accountability — to our neighbors, not to an ideology.

Across the country, communities that lose their local newspaper often see lower civic engagement, less oversight of public institutions and fewer shared facts. The absence of local journalism does not create more information — it creates more uncertainty.

We do not want that future for our community.

We want a community that is informed. Engaged. Connected. Accountable.

And that requires strong, sustainable local journalism.

That commitment also means looking for new ways to expand coverage where it matters most.

That is why we partnered with Report for America to bring an additional reporter into our newsroom — Daniel Schoenherr — to focus on coverage of the Manton and Mesick communities and on agricultural issues that affect the greater Cadillac area. These are important stories that deserve consistent attention, and this partnership allows us to strengthen coverage in areas that are vital to our region’s economy and identity.

But this program comes with an important responsibility.

Through our partnership with Report for America and the Cadillac Area Community Foundation Local Journalism Fund, we are required to raise local support in order to continue this program. In other words, sustaining this additional reporting capacity depends directly on the community’s willingness to invest in it.

This is a powerful example of what community-supported journalism looks like in practice.

If you value expanded coverage of rural communities, agriculture and local issues that might otherwise go underreported, you can support these efforts and help us continue this partnership.

More information about how to contribute can be found here:

https://www.cadillacnews.com/site/donate.html

Advertising continues to play an important role, and we are grateful for the businesses that support us. But the reality of today’s media landscape is that reader support has become just as essential. Subscriptions and community contributions are no longer simply transactions — they are investments in the health of the community.

When you subscribe or contribute, you are not just paying for access to articles.

You are helping ensure that someone is there to ask questions at public meetings.

To verify information before publishing it.

To tell the stories of local students, businesses, farmers and families.

To provide a trusted record of our community’s history — day by day.

We do not charge for news because we want to limit access.

We charge because we want to continue providing it.

And we remain committed to doing so responsibly — offering free access to critical information, maintaining transparency about our role and earning the trust of the community we serve.

Local news is not about politics.

It is about people.

Local journalism is not free to produce.

But its value to a community is immeasurable.

And in a state where locally owned daily newspapers have nearly disappeared, keeping one strong is not just about sustaining a business.

It is about sustaining a community.

If we did not cover the local news, who would?

This editorial is the opinion of the Cadillac News Editorial Committee, which consists of Chris Huckle, Publisher, and Matt Seward, Editor.