US Newspapers Mark National Newspaper Week Amid Local News Crisis
Local newspapers observe National Newspaper Week while industry leaders warn that expanding news deserts threaten government accountability and American democracy.
Newspapers across the United States are observing National Newspaper Week from October 4-10, 2026, under the theme “Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth.” The observance highlights the role of the press as the fourth estate, serving as a check on government power from local municipalities to the White House.
Robb Hicks, publisher of the Buffalo Bulletin and co-owner of the Stevenson-Hicks Newspaper Group, is using the week to advocate for the preservation of rural journalism. Hicks warns that the shift of advertising revenue to digital platforms and national chains has decimated traditional business models. He notes that nearly 3,500 U.S. newspapers have disappeared since 2005, according to data from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
This decline has created news deserts, with the Medill School reporting that over 1,500 U.S. counties now rely on a single news outlet. Industry proponents and editorials from outlets like the Richmond Register and The Scranton Times-Tribune argue that these gaps in coverage lead to increased government corruption, higher government costs, and lower voter turnout.
To combat these trends, Hicks has urged Congress to pass the Community News and Small Business Support Act to assist rural coverage. He also calls on government agencies and nonprofits to budget for communications rather than relying on free coverage. In Wyoming, the Stevenson-Hicks Newspaper Group attempted to mitigate these losses by reopening eight newspapers that had closed in 2025.
