Publisher is thankful for loyal readers and advertisers who support local journalism

As you enjoy your day with family, football and great food, I encourage you to participate in the timeless tradition of sharing with each other things for which you are thankful. This is a time each year when I reflect on the past and have meaningful discussions with my family about all I am grateful for.

I am fortunate, as I have a lot to be thankful for: health, family, friends, home, job, community, and a lot more. And I work hard to preserve those things.

But this year, I am thankful for much more than the generalities of good fortune and hard work. On this Thanksgiving 2019, I am most thankful for YOU - our readers and our advertisers who support local journalism.

You don’t have to look far to see the rapid changes in the news industry, driven by changes in technology and consumer behaviors. The rise of the internet has habituated people to easy, free access to many things – including news.

But as my grandfather used to say, “nothing’s free in this world.” He’d also remind me “something is only worth as much as somebody’s willing to pay for it.” And that’s the intersection of my gratitude to you, our readers and advertisers, who invest money to keep strong independent local journalism in our community here in Tarrant County.

Unfortunately, rising costs associated with producing and distributing great local news – combined with a decline in advertising revenue – have led to rising prices to receive news at your doorstep in printed form.

Yet newspapers still produce the bulk of local news in digital and print platforms – much of it forms the basis of radio and television newscasts. That’s because newspapers have more journalists, not just “personalities.”

But we all know what this world would be like without local journalism. It’s not a pretty thought.

The news industry has many challenges, including perceptions. A Gallup survey finds that a majority of Americans believe that local news organizations are doing well financially and yet 1,800 newspapers have closed in the last decade. And all of the major news companies’ earnings reports indicate otherwise as well. All of us in the industry are fighting to save local accountability journalism.

Whether you’re a loyal reader or loyal advertiser – we thank you this Thanksgiving.

Please support our loyal advertisers this holiday season. By doing so, you’ll support them and us.

The Star-Telegram is here for you, and because of you.

Please encourage others to support local journalism with a digital subscription by using this link.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you.

Ryan Mote is the publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.