Growing response to Maryland newspaper shooting: 'Subscribe to your local newspaper'
Following the deaths of five newspaper employees at the hands of a shooter in the newsroom of the Annapolis, Md., Capital Gazette on Thursday afternoon, people around the country have been searching for ways to honor victims of the tragedy. One positive idea has come out of Twitter, where some users are asking followers to keep the legacy of journalism alive by subscribing to, or at least buying a copy of, their local paper.
Writer Matt Ford of the New Republic tweeted, “A small but meaningful response to the Capital Gazette tragedy would be to subscribe to a similar local newspaper in your area, wherever that may be.” His tweet quickly racked up over 3,000 likes and 1,000 comments.
A small but meaningful response to the Capital Gazette tragedy would be to subscribe to a similar local newspaper in your area, wherever that may be.
— Matt Ford (@fordm) June 28, 2018
Many of his Twitter followers supported the sentiment.
I agree. I'm Tweeting this wherever I can today. pic.twitter.com/CSwQCEi1Qj
— Libby Sternberg (@LibbysBooks) June 29, 2018
THIS is a BEAUTIFUL IDEA ?
— RichieEnglish_III (@TheEggmanRichie) June 29, 2018
Other people are also joining in by calling for subscribing to local newspapers in remembrance of the victims and survivors and in support of this country’s freedom of the press.
Relieved that the Capital Gazette shooting wasn't about left-right politics.
But:
?? Journalists were murdered yesterday.
?? For reporting the truth.
?? In America.
🙏 Please subscribe to your local newspaper. pic.twitter.com/fZyzUeP449
— David S. Joachim (@davidjoachim) June 29, 2018
#CapitalGazette If you want change, truth, light and to honor the journalists lost and battered today; go online and order a subscription for your hometown newspaper. #Subscribe #Honor their dedication to our communities #theIE💝 #onwardandupward #TellAFriend #better_together
— Kimi Davis (@skimidavis) June 29, 2018
Today is the day to subscribe to your local paper. In Ohio, my family reads @DispatchAlerts. Here I read @baltimoresun papers and listen & donate to my local radio stations. Find your local paper & subscribe. Our work matters. It's worth your money. #journalismmatters
— Kate Magill (@kate_magill) June 29, 2018
Some of the tweets have specifically mentioned the unsung work of community newspapers and of local journalists.
In honor of the 5 slain journalists at the Capital Gazette – subscribe to a newspaper – preferably a local one. For ever abomination like Hannity, there are 10x more hard working, underpaid, dedicated chasers of the truth.
Who across the globe will take a bullet to broadcast it
— Kavita Nair (@KavitaNair70) June 29, 2018
Local newspapers don’t win tons of Pulitzers or cover flashy stories. They cover the zoning board, the planning board, the town budget. They’re often overlooked. But they’re where some of the country’s finest journalists work for little pay & no glory. Please remember them today.
— Maria Cramer (@GlobeMCramer) June 28, 2018
You may not always agree or support your local newspaper, but journalists inside those buildings aim to serve you either way. You may not always think they are "of the people," but their job is to be "for the people."
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) June 29, 2018
Journalists at the 1,300 U.S. daily newspapers like the Annapolis Capital Gazette are part of the local fabric in communities and hold power to account. They are neither fake news nor an enemy of the people. #journalismmatters
— Gilbert Bailon (@GilbertBailon) June 29, 2018
While a representative of the Baltimore Sun (the Capital Gazette’s parent company) tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the paper has not yet seen an increase in subscriptions, hopefully a wave of new subscribers is on its way, to the Gazette and other local papers across the country.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
5 Fatal Victims of Maryland Newsroom Shooting Identified as Reporters and Sales Assistant
‘I will love her forever’: Author of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ shares post 6 months after partner’s death
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