@Lats@australia According to the article, something like 55% of subscriptions to Murdoch's big metro tabloids come from people who want to read the local paper.
So Murdoch's running all these local paper country papers into the ground (just one reporter, with 3000 articles per week churned out by four nationwide reporters using AI) to prop up the likes of Andrew Bolt.
Those local papers used to be an important part of the community. What the mayor and the local shire council up to. Local issues the national media won't touch. How the local footy and netball teams win on the weekend. Who was at the local Magistrate's Court this week. The obituary for Anne, who was a pillar of the local community and ran the local CWA branch for 30 years. Praise for young Hannah who raised over $1000 for Make-A-Wish.
They were also an important training ground for young journalists.
And, rather than being returned to community ownership, they instead got bought out by Murdoch, who gutted them to line his pockets.