Declining revenue may have forced many Kansas newspapers to go weekly, but that doesn’t spell the end of the small-town Kansas newspaper. In fact, some towns are even starting up new weekly newspapers, reports the Rural Blog. Examples include the newly formed McPherson News and Information and the in-progress Newton Now. Joey young says he’s starting the Newton Now as an alternative to corporate newspapers that concentrate on national and world news.
A 2013 survey found that 67 percent of small-town US residents read a paper copy of their town’s newspaper at least once a week. That’s music to advertisers’ ears. Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, noted that community newspapers have a corner on the local advertising market.