Newspapers in our country are facing serious financial challenges. With the Internet younger people are not turning to papers as a source of news, information or entertainment. And television has always been an easier way to get the news but unfortunately  does a deceptively poor job of delivering  local news. Their slogans about "Complete Local  Coverage " is anything but complete.The big advantage newspapers have is  bringing people local news. Because of the logistics of television , local stations are actually regional stations  covering  as many as one hundred cities and towns. Local stations can not cover any but an occasional local political story and usually opt for local crime stories. Consequently our political democracy is weakened because a small percentage of the population have adequate information about local politics. Young people are especially alienated from the process.
     Where there are challenges there are also opportunities. Newspapers and local high schools and local communities can work together to promote local stories, to build local awareness of issues and to together help redevelop our democracy.