The benefit of a college paper is its ability to operate as a sandbox for aspiring writers to hone their craft before moving forward with their careers. However, it’s hard to focus on building a sandcastle when the house you may inherit is getting demolished.
Last week, the Idaho Statesman boasted a newsroom of over 20 journalists and editors.
After recent layoffs look to cut that number in half, The Arbiter, a student newspaper, will soon have a larger newsroom than the second longest running paper in Idaho.
The Statesman’s parent company, McClatchy Media, posted a memo Thursday citing a 41% decline in consumer revenue across newsrooms, alongside flat expenses, as reasoning behind the decision.
“We are making these changes because the status quo no longer works. We cannot continue investing where subscriber interest does not support the investment,” the McClatchy memo stated. “We need to listen to our subscribers, make choices, and focus resources to create the greatest value.”
It’s no secret the journalism industry is experiencing a rapid decline in subscriber funding and retention. With 53% of U.S. adults turning to social media for their news, according to a Pew Research survey in 2025, it’s a sound business decision to shift focus.
Times are changing, which means publications must adapt and meet audiences where they’re at, but hobbling a newsroom’s ability to report on their community is amputating a leg because a shoe doesn’t fit.
This only harms the community and creates gaps in coverage that may not be filled by current and future journalists.
“We remain deeply committed to local journalism. That commitment must adapt as our audiences and the marketplace change,” the memo continued. “It requires us to make difficult choices, learn from the results, and focus our resources where journalism can have the greatest impact.”
Sure. Business decisions made to benefit the company at the low cost of decimating information infrastructure is a wonderfully harmless idea that will definitely cause no greater impact for the future of this industry.
The Idaho Statesman and other print publications are often at the forefront of reporting and provide the first step in the information pipeline. Local news stations pull stories from newspapers as a foundation for broadcast segments, their coverage is integral for historical record keeping and they bring issues to light the average Idahoan may not hear about otherwise.
“Our standard remains: Credible, Accurate AND Relevant. Credibility and accuracy are non-negotiable,” the McClatchy memo explained. “Relevance means producing journalism that matters to our subscribers and strengthens the communities we serve.”
Laying off these journalists sends the message that, unsurprisingly, McClatchy’s deep commitment is not to local journalism, the community or even their subscribers. Their only real commitment is to themselves.
If subscribers were the main factor they would not have cut two suburbs reporters who are needed to report on the growing rodent infestation, two breaking news reporters who risk their own well-being to cover wildfires or two investigative reporters who attend long legislative hearings and city council meetings to hold public officials accountable.
Given subscribers likely pay to see that sort of relevant information, they will not be pleased when coverage begins to shrink. What happens when subscriber investment dips because McClatchy decided to cut information their users subscribed to see in the first place?
The memo concluded, “We will move forward with focus, investing in the journalism our subscribers value and that our communities need.”
Student journalists are a part of that community and McClatchy’s selfish decision trickles down to those who are passionate about moving forward with this industry.
All of the work done at The Arbiter comes with the practical intent of joining the professional world and continuing to serve the community many grew up in. To say the least, these layoffs do not inspire confidence in the future of journalism in the Northwest.
Students will begin to leave Idaho’s already small media market in favor of opportunities elsewhere, because who would work for a parent company whose self-destructive actions are detrimental to the industry they claim to invest in.
Without new talent or proper coverage, the state runs the risk of becoming an information desert. Idaho needs local journalism now more than ever and The Arbiter remains deeply committed to reporting for the community — the same cannot be said for those leading McClatchy.
