When I plan out my budget each month, I make sure to set aside enough money for the essentials: rent, car insurance, food — and news sources. While I am certainly no financial wizard, I think more people should take my approach.

In late January, The New York Times published an opinion piece by David Chavern titled “Want to Stop Fake News? Pay for the Real Thing.” The main argument of the article was that in the digital age, people (and platforms such as Facebook and Google) are unwilling to pay for news, which has resulted in a decline in news sources and quality and is partially responsible for the rise of fake news. 

The response on social media was swift and brutal, with many chastising the publication for making such a statement and accusing the editorial staff of just wanting to sell subscriptions.

However, even if that were the case, Chavern still wouldn’t be wrong. People need to be willing to pay for quality news if they want to see it continue in this country.

A study by the University of North Carolina’s School of Media and Journalism found that more than 1,300 American communities have lost their local news sources. It also seems like every week a major news organization or conglomerate announces a round of layoffs. While there are certainly many factors to why news dollars are shrinking, one of them is undoubtedly that many have decided that news should come free.

Look, I get it. No one wants to pay for something — especially when they have gotten it for free in the past — and budgeting is difficult. But if the news is important to you, you need to find a way to support it financially because news costs money to produce.

Even when I was at my most broke in college, living off of 12-cent ramen noodle packets and bagels I stole from various lecture halls, I made sure to set aside money to pay for digital subscriptions to The Detroit News and The New York Times. Like with all financial decisions, it is about prioritizing your needs and what is important to you.

I also understand that as I am a news employee, many will need to take my words with a grain of salt. But I am also a lover of truth, transparency and small towns. In my opinion, news and quality journalism is essential to all three. 

In many ways, newspapers are more important at a local level than at a national level because in most cases, without them, readers would not be informed on local happenings. This is certainly true in our communities. Our local papers are where we can keep up to date on relevant information, hold rouge actors accountable and celebrate our triumphs. I want our newspapers to still be around in 20 years, and I hope you do, too.

For that to happen, we all have to decide once again that news is worth paying for.

SARAH CULTON, is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7712 or by email at sarah.culton@leaderpub.com