National Newspaper Week wraps up Saturday with, no doubt, a typical end-of-week collective sigh by those of us working a beat.
Our numbers have dwindled — an 80% decline from 800,000-plus newsroom jobs in 1990 to around 86,000 in mid-2025, according to ReportEarth — but still, papers not only continue to be published but websites are now “populated” with news as its happens.
The job may sometimes remind those of us still standing of the curse “may you live in interesting times,” but mostly — almost always, in fact — markers like National Newspaper Week remind us of why we chose the profession and why we stay.
The theme of National Newspaper Week 2025 is “Embracing Local Journalism for a Better Future.”
“Local journalism is the heartbeat of informed communities,” the event website states. “It brings stories to light that national outlets often overlook-stories about school board decisions, city council debates, neighborhood events, and local heroes. In a world increasingly shaped by global headlines and social media noise, reconnecting with local news is vital for civic engagement, accountability, and community resilience.”
Here at The Breeze, we not only agree, we embrace the philosophy that local news matters — matters to our community, matters to those of us who live and work here.
Local journalism — community journalism — is not only the focus, it is the mission of the Breeze Newspapers: We strive “To be the primary provider of news and information to the communities we serve.”
What is community journalism?
It’s today’s Breeze:
The “big stories” of the pending Utility Expansion Project assessments and the recommended firing of teachers for remarks allegedly made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. It’s the upcoming first Bike Night of the season, Police Night Out, the South Cape Halloween festivities and the fundraisers for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter.
It’s The Breeze Athletes of the Week, the plans for the new Foster Village, upcoming Town Halls and the story about Ford’s Garage raising money for breast cancer.
Community journalism is more than news and features, though — local newspapers offer both a voice and a vehicle for the public.
It’s letters to the editor, guest columns from officials and organizations and yes, editorials on subjects of public interest.
It’s the weekly specials from Dixie, Merrick or Mel’s, columns from local experts and pets of the week.
Community journalism is, at its best, a reflection of the community it serves and we are proud to have served as Cape Coral’s newspaper of record since 1961.
We invite you to share your news with your hometown paper.
News releases, story suggestions, letters to the editor and comments to our publisher and news team are always welcome at news@breezenewspapers.com.
We thank you for reading.
— Ray Eckenrode, publisher
– Valarie Harring, executive editor
– Chris Strine, editor