The messages started coming in hot and heavy late Sunday night from people I know and respect.
They carried a link to a story from some site called The Editorial entitled “The Ghost Paper That Ate Alabama: How a Media Startup Killed 47 Weekly Newspapers and No One Noticed.”
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx 4=:4<65 2?5 C625 E96 ;2H\5C@AA:?8 E2=6 @7 9@H 4FCC6?E v~! ?@>:?66 7@C =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C[ y@9? (29=[ G:2 E96 2FDA:46D @7 E96 C:89E\H:?8 H63D:E6 `g`h }6HD 2?5 2 D925@HJ s6=2H2C6\32D65 :?4@CA@C2E:@? 42==65 p=232>2 r@>>F?:EJ }6HD {{r 925 >2?2865 E@ 3FJ FA cf =@42= H66<=J ?6HDA2A6CD 7@C Sb]a >:==:@?[ 2?5 EFC? E96> :?E@ px D96==D @7 E96:C 7@C>6C D6=G6D 367@C6 F=E:>2E6=J =6EE:?8 E96> 5:6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmtG6? 2D x C625 E96 DE@CJ[ D@>6 E9:?8D ;F>A65 @FE 2E >6 E92E D66>65 @55[ 3FE E96C6 H2D 2 EC6>6?5@FD 2>@F?E @7 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD :ED6=7 4@?E2:?65 =@25D @7 =@?8\7@C>[ :?G6DE:82E:G6 DE@C:6D E92E =@@<65 4C65:3=6] v:G6? >J @H? C6D62C49 :?E@ `g`h }6HD’ D925@HJ 368:??:?8D 2?5 @A2BF6 @H?6CD9:A 2?5 7F?5:?8[ E96 DE@CJ D66>65 A=2FD:3=6 2E 7:CDE 8=2?46] x’== 25>:E E@ DA6?5:?8 2 76H >:?FE6D 5F>37@F?565 E92E E9:D 925 D@>69@H 2== 92AA6?65 C:89E F?56C >J ?@D6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? ;FDE 2 >2EE6C @7 >:?FE6D[ D6G6C2= >@C6 D>2CE[ >65:2\D2GGJ A6@A=6 925 D6?E >6 E96 DE@CJ[ D@ :E H2D 567:?:E6=J >2<:?8 E96 C@F?5D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqFE E96C6 H6C6 D@>6 :DDF6D H:E9 E96 DE@CJ E92E 3@E96C65 >6[ 2?5 x’5 ?6G6C 962C5 @7 E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD[ D@ x 564:565 E@ ECJ E@ 4@?E24E E96 C6A@CE6C[ t=6?2 |2C496EE:] x 4@F=5 7:?5 ?@ 6>2:= @C 4@?E24E :?7@C>2E:@?] p =2C86C D62C49 7@F?5 ?@ AF3=:42E:@? 9:DE@CJ 7@C 96C] w>>>nk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96? x H6?E =@@<:?8 7@C 4@?E24E :?7@ 7@C E96 AF3=:42E:@? :ED6=7] }@ AF3=:D96C @C 65:E@C H2D =:DE65 2?JH96C6[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D G6CJ D=:89E 4@?E24E :?7@ E92E H2D 92C5 E@ 7:?5] x H6?E E@ 365 E9:?<:?8[ E9:D :D AC@323=J px[ 3FE 4@?7FD65 2D E@ H9J E9:D 3:K2CC6 DE@CJ H@F=5 36 4@?4@4E65 23@FE ?6HDA2A6CD :? p=232>2[ `g`h }6HD 2?5 y@9? (29=[ H96? E96 C6DE @7 E96 DE@C:6D @? E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD H6C6 23@FE E9:?8D 7C@> 2== @G6C E96 H@C=5n p?5 H9J ?@Hnk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? E96 >@C?:?8 =:89E[ x 564:565 E@ 2D< r92Ev!% H92E :E 4@F=5 7:?5 @FE 23@FE E96 DE@CJ[ 2?5 :E BF:4<=J E9C6H 4@=5 H2E6C @? E96 H9@=6 E9:?8] px C2EE:?8 @FE px[ H9@ H@F=5 :>28:?6n k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|J 3C@E96C[ 2 !9]s] :? 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46[ 92D AC@\=6G6= px <?@H=6586[ 2?5 H6 H6C6 G242E:@?:?8 E@86E96C[ D@ x 2D<65 9:> E@ 8:G6 :E 2 =@@<] w:D y65:\=:<6 px C252C ?@E @?=J A@@\A@@65 E96 H9@=6 E9:?8 2D 36:?8 E@E2==J >256 FA[ 3FE 5F8 >F49 566A6C] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96C6 :D ?@ 6G:56?46 E92E 2?J @7 E96 46?EC2= 6G6?ED @44FCC65] %96 A:646 2EE2496D 2 92?57F= @7 C62= ?2>6D — `g`h }6HD[ p=232>2 v~! r92:C>2? y@9? (29=[ 8F36C?2E@C:2= 42?5:52E6 %:> y2>6D 2?5 D6G6C2= 86?F:?6 ?6HDA2A6CD — E@ 2? 6?E:C6=J :?G6?E65 4@>A2?J[ 2 ?@?\6I:DE6?E 24BF:D:E:@? 2?5 2 32?<CFAE4J E92E ?6G6C 92AA6?65] xE @C:8:?2E6D 7C@> 2? 2?@?J>@FD px 4@?E6?E\72C> H63D:E6[ :D 4C65:E65 E@ 2? F?G6C:7:23=6 2FE9@C[ 2?5 :D 4@?EC25:4E65 3J C625:=J 4964<23=6 AF3=:4 724ED[” E96 2?2=JD:D D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmxE A@:?E65 @FE D@>6 @7 E9@D6 :DDF6D[ DF49 2D E96 724E E92E >@DE @7 E96 ?6HDA2A6CD >6?E:@?65 :? E96 2CE:4=6 2D 92G:?8 366? AFE @FE @7 3FD:?6DD 2C6 DE:== 24EF2==J AF3=:D9:?8] (96? J@F D:E 5@H? 7@C 2 D64@?5 2?5 4@?D:56C E96 4@?46AE @7 cf ?6HDA2A6CD :? 2 DE2E6 H:E9 ef 4@F?E:6D 8@:?8 @FE @7 3FD:?6DD 2?5 ?@3@5J ?@E:4:?8 :E[ :E’D 92C5 ?@E E@ 766= 5F>3 7@C 92G:?8 6G6? 8:G6? E9:D 2 >@>6?E’D 4@?D:56C2E:@?] %9:D 566A6C 2?2=JD:D 2=D@ D9@H65 9@H >@DE @7 E96 724ED 2?5 A6@A=6 >6?E:@?65 :? E96 2CE:4=6 4@F=5 @?=J 36 7@F?5 :? E96 2CE:4=6 2?5 ?@H96C6 6=D6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$@ H9J 5:5 E9:D 92AA6?n %96 px 2?2=JD:D DF886DE65 E92E E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD 925 FD65 E96 yF?6 a_ad 4=@DFC6 @7 %96 s6>@A@=:D %:>6D 2?5 `g`h }6HD’ a_ab D42?52= DFCC@F?5:?8 E96 DF:4:56 @7 $>:E9D $E2E:@? |2J@C 2?5 !2DE@C u]{] “qF332” r@A6=2?5 27E6C E96 A2A6C @FE65 9:> 2D 2 4C@DD\5C6DD6C 2D E96 32D:D 7@C E9:D =6?8E9J 2?5 C62=:DE:4\=@@<:?8 92==F4:?2E:@?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqFE :E D66>D E@ >6 E96C6’D D@>6E9:?8 6G6? >@C6 :?D:5:@FD 96C6] xE’D 2D :7 E96 px E92E 4C62E65 E9:D 72=D6 DE@CJ H2D 23=6 E@ E2<6 :?E@ 244@F?E E96 DFDA:4:@?D >2?J 92G6 23@FE `g`h }6HD 2?5 :ED @H? D64C64J E@ HC:E6 2 ?2CC2E:G6 E92E A=2J65 :?E@ H92E >2?J >:89E 7:?5 BF:E6 36=:6G23=6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 DE@CJ @7 `g`h’D C:D6 2D A2CE @7 E96 DE2E6’D >65:2 D46?6 :D D925@HJ 2E 36DE] xED rt~[ qCJ2? s2HD@?[ :D 2 4@?G:4E65 76=@? H:E9 ?@ ;@FC?2=:D> 324<8C@F?5 H9@ 42>6 @FE @7 ?@H96C6] %96 4@>A2?J @77:4:2==J A2CE65 H2JD H:E9 p!x 2 76H J62CD 28@[ 3FE `g`h }6HD {{r :D 24EF2==J @A6C2E65 3J p=232>2 |65:2 u@F?52E:@?[ H9:49 =:DED |2C< !66A=6D 2?5 y@D9 #9@56D 2D 5:C64E@CD 2?5 s2HD@? 2D 2 C68:DE6C65 286?E] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms:5 p!x ;FDE 8:G6 `g`h }6HD E@ E96D6 8FJDn (2D :E AFC492D65n x#$ hh_D D9@H >@C6 E92? Sa >:==:@? 2 J62C 7=@H:?8 :?E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@? 7C@> 8C2?ED 2?5 5@?2E:@?D[ 3FE :E 5@6D?’E =:DE H9@ E96J 2C6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp?5 H9:=6 `g`h }6HD 5@6D AC@5F46 D@>6 ;@FC?2=:D>[ >@DE @7 H92E :E 2AA62CD E@ AC@>@E6 :D 5C6DD65\FA 25G@424J 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:G6 AC@A282?52] (9@’D A2J:?8 7@C E92E C6>2:?D 2 >JDE6CJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx 6>2:=65 #9@56D 2?5 !66A=6D |@?52J >@C?:?8 E@ 2D< E96:C E9@F89ED @? E96 DEC2?86 px DE@CJ 2?5 2=D@ E@ 9@A67F==J 2?DH6C D@>6 @7 E96 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE @H?6CD9:A 2?5 7F?5:?8[ 3FE E96J 5:5?’E :>>65:2E6=J 86E 324< E@ >6] s2HD@? @55=J 5@6D?’E 92G6 2 A6CD@?2= 6>2:= =:DE65 @? `g`h }6HD[ D@ 9@A67F==J 96 8@E >J BF6DE:@?D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|@?52J >@C?:?8[ x 2=D@ HC@E6 E@ E9C66 86?6C:4 6>2:=D 7@C E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD E@ 2D< 23@FE H9@ E96J 2C6 2?5 E@ D66 :7 E96J 4@F=5 AFE >6 :? E@F49 H:E9 E96:C 72<6 C6A@CE6C] x’> DFC6 x H2D?’E E96 @?=J @?6] qJ 62C=J 27E6C?@@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD^4F=EFC6^E96\89@DE\A2A6C\E92E\2E6\2=232>2\9@H\2\>65:2\DE2CEFA\<:==65\cf\H66<=J\?6HDA2A6CD\2?5\?@\@?6\?@E:\>BECaeBEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96 DE@CJ 925 366? E2<6? 5@H?k^2m] x 8F6DD :E H2D 2 G:4E:> @7 :ED @H? DF446DD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63]2C49:G6]@C8^H63^a_ae_eah_``_`_^9EEADi^^E9665:E@C:2=]?6HD^4F=EFC6^E96\89@DE\A2A6C\E92E\2E6\2=232>2\9@H\2\>65:2\DE2CEFA\<:==65\cf\H66<=J\?6HDA2A6CD\2?5\?@\@?6\?@E:\>BECaeBEQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 H2D 2C49:G65 2?5 42? DE:== 36 C625 96C6k^2mk^6>mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 t5:E@C:2=’D 72<6 DE@CJ 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 ?@E @?=J 42F89E 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 @77 8F2C5[ 3FE 5@?6 D@ 3J A=2J:?8 @? `g`h }6HD’ @H? 4C65:3:=:EJ AC@3=6>D] x 6G6? D2H @?6 A@DE 7C@> 2 3=@886C[ 7@C>6C ;@FC?2=:DE 2?5 AC@76DD@C H9@ 25>:EE65 E@ 92G:?8 C6A@DE65 =:?<D E@ E96 DE@CJ 367@C6 C62=:K:?8 :E H2D 72<6 D:>A=J 3642FD6 :E A=2J65 E@ 9:D @H? C6D62C49 :?E@ 4@?D6CG2E:G6 >65:2 @FE=6ED :? p=232>2] x 42? 86E E92E] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx’> ?@E DFC6 6I24E=J H92E’D E@ 36 =62C?65 96C6[ @E96C E92? E96 724E E92E px 4@?E:?F6D >@G:?8 29625 2E 3C62<?64< DA665 2?5 ?@H 6G6? 2AA62CD E@ 36 23=6 E@ E2A :?E@ @FC 4@?D4:@FD 2?5 DF34@?D4:@FD E9@F89ED 2?5 3:2D6D E@ 86E FD @? E96 9@@<] (6 2== 2=C625J <?6H E@ 36 42C67F=[ 3FE E9:D D9@F=5 36 2 C6>:?56C E92E 6G6? E96 >@DE D<6AE:42= 2>@?8 FD 42? 36 EC:4<65] k^Am
(1) comment
I did not realize 1819 News was so shrouded in mystery. Have you tried asking your buddy Jeff Poor?
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.