[EDITORIALS]Newspapers’ day to reflect

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[EDITORIALS]Newspapers’ day to reflect

Today, on the 50th anniversary of the Newspaper Day, our emotions run high.
Half a century ago, senior reporters established this day under the notion that the press should stand at the forefront of protecting liberal democracy and developing a market economy. That resolve still exists today and it is true that newspapers have made certain contributions in firmly establishing democracy and industrialization.
Nevertheless, on such a meaningful day, those who work for newspapers cannot hide a hollow feeling. That is because there is a stern and cruel reality surrounding newspapers. It’s encouraging that in a recent survey, newspapers were seen as an energizing element of life and the hub of the media, something that readers still trust and love. The evaluation shows that newspapers are still ahead of other media sources in terms of depth and beneficial information.
Nevertheless, instead of accepting the readers’ evaluation as praise, we should take it as a stick pushing us forward. The circumstances surrounding newspapers are not friendly. The Internet is taking young readers farther away from the print media.
The fact that subscription rates of newspapers have dropped from 70 percent to 40 percent demonstrates how big the crisis of newspapers is.
With the reduction of advertising, there are many papers in a managerial crisis. Nevertheless, this administration tries to put newspapers in the straitjacket at every possible opportunity.
The administration gives special benefits to broadcasting companies that are friendly with it while it tries to put a burden on newspapers critical of the administration through regulations and new press laws.
Even with these harsh circumstances, we will overcome this crisis by considering “the crisis of newspapers as a crisis of democracy,” and protecting the independence and freedom of the press. There is no bigger energy for us than our readers’ support. In order to answer to that support, we will not be lazy in reflecting upon ourselves.
We will reflect upon whether we have not looked out more for our interests rather than those of the public, whether we have not written stories from our viewpoint rather than that of the reader, whether we have neglected to provide objective and in-depth information.
Through this, we will keep our promise of today that we will move together to the future with our readers who have stood with us for half a century.
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