Episode 43 — How We're Saving the NLJ
Bob and Alexis go off the page in the wake of the unexpected closure of 8 Wyoming newspapers to explain the state of the newspaper industry, and outline for NLJ readers what efforts are being made to preserve local independent journalism in Weston County, Wyoming. We discuss the pressures on small-town businesses, and the difficulty associated with maintaining product quality in an industry where operating budgets are drastically reduced from a decade ago — and share the monumental efforts being made by the Wyoming Press Association and its leading members to preserve the free press in our state. We also take a deep dive into the newspaper's latest transparency battle with the Weston County Commissioners, and reveal the swamp-dwelling tactics local elected officials used to avoid honesty and accountability in an effort to convince the public that they should be paying higher taxes.