♪ >> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY" -- >> THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO THE LIFE OF DEMOCRACY THAN ACCURATE INFORMATION SO VOTERS CAN MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON REALITY.

>> A FREE PRESS IS THE HEART OF DEMOCRACY.

WHEN NEWSPAPERS SHUDDER, CRITICAL STORIES ARE LEFT UNCOVERED.

>> LOCAL JOURNALISM HAS BEEN HOLLOWED BY THE ECONOMY, DOWNSIZING, BY THE WAY PEOPLE CONSUME NEWS NOW WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN 20 YEARS AGO.

>> WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE MURDER OF VIETNAMESE AND BLACK AMERICANS AND ALL AMERICANS SUBJECT TO THE DRAFT.

>> IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO HAVE A NEW SERVICE.

1967, EVERY BIG CITY IN AMERICA HAD AN UNDERGROUND PAPER.

>> IT WENT FROM FIVE PAPERS BY 1966 TO LITERALLY 1000 PAPERS BY 1969 OR 1970.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS VIRTUAL EDITION OF "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

IN 1787, BEFORE THE WRITING OF THE CONSTITUTION, THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE TO A FRIEND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A FREE PRESS TO KEEP GOVERNMENT IN CHECK.

"WERE THEFT TO ME TO DECIDE WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT NEWSPAPERS OR NEWSPAPERS WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT, I SHOULD NOT HESITATE A MOMENT TO PREFER THE LATTER."

MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES LATER, A FREE PRESS REMAINS A STRONG FORCE OF THE ROADHAS BEEN ROCKY.

TONIGHT WE EXPLORE THE STATE OF REPORTING THE NEWS TODAY AND IN YEARS PAST.

WE BEGIN WITH A STARTLING STATISTIC.

MORE THAN 2000 NEWSPAPERS HAVE SHUT DOWN NATIONWIDE SINCE 2004.

ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, MORE AMERICANS GET THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA THAN NEWSPAPERS.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS RAMPANT WITH MISINFORMATION, AS WE SAW WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SUPPORTERS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL EARLIER THIS MONTH, FALSELY CLAIMING THE ELECTION HAD BEEN STOLEN.

LOCAL JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO STEM THE TIDE OF MISINFORMATION WITH DWINDLING RESOURCES.

THEY WERE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT TO KEEP THE PRESSES RUN EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

NOW THE HURDLES ARE EVEN TOUGHER TO OVERCOME.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SIT AT HOME.

I WANT TO COME HERE.

MICHELLE: THE STACK OF NEWSPAPERS RUNNING EDITOR JOHN HOWELL CHRONICLES COUNTLESS STORIES.

STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE, DISAPPOINTMENT, TRAGEDY.

HE HAS COVERED IT ALL.

JOHN: YOU NEVER QUIT.

TO ME THAT IS EXCITING.

MICHELLE: THAT EXCITEMENT HAS KEPT HIM GOING FOR MONTHS, EVEN WITHOUT BEING PAID.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING OF THE PAYROLL SINCE MARCH.

WHY DO YOU COME INTO THE OFFICE AND WORK FOR FREE?

JOHN: BECAUSE I LOVE THE JOB.

MICHELLE: HE'S THE PUBLISHER OF BEACON COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH PUBLISHES THE WARWICK BEGIN AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.

WHEN ADVERTISEMENT REVENUE DRIED UP, HE LAID OFF EIGHT PEOPLE, INCLUDING HIMSELF.

SOON AFTER, THE BEACON RECEIVED A $190,000 FORGIVABLE FEDERAL LOAN WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO BRING BACK MOST OF HIS EMPLOYEES.

IRONICALLY, HOWELL SAYS THE PANDEMIC IS NOT ALL BAD FOR BUSINESS.

JOHN: WE HAVE SEEN SOME CIRCULATION GROWTH.

I THINK IT'S THE RESULT OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

PEOPLE ARE HOME.

THEY HAVE MORE TIME SO THEY CAN READ.

AND I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH A COMMUNITY MORE THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

MICHELLE: BUT THE NEWS IS NOT ALL ENCOURAGING.

THE WARWICK BEACON WENT FROM HAVING TO PRINT EDITIONS EVERY WEEK, NOW DOWN TO ONE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

STILL, HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC THE WARWICK BEACON CAN SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC.

MICHELLE: YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY SINCE THE 1960'S.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING PEOPLE SAY NEWSPAPERS ARE DYING?

IS THAT AN EXAGGERATION?

JOHN: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WHY DO YOU LAUGH --MICHELLE: WHY YOU LAUGH?

JOHN: I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT.

>> NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN DYING SINCE THE 1920'S WHEN RADIO WAS GONNA KILL THE NEWSPAPERS.

THEN IN THE 1950'S, TV WAS GOING TO KILL THE NEWSPAPER.

LONG BEFORE I WAS BORN NEWSPAPERS WERE DYING.

MICHELLE: BEFORE ACCEPTING A BUYOUT AND RETIRING LAST DECEMBER, ALAN ROSENBERG WAS THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

HE HAD WORKED THERE FOR NEARLY 43 YEARS.

NEWSPAPERS, HE SAYS, HAVE LONG HAD TO COMPETE WITH NEW MEDIA.

ALAN: THE THANK YOU ON TO PAY ATTENTION TO IS NOT THE PIECE OF PAPER.

IT IS NOT WHETHER THERE IS INK ON THE PAPER THAT MATTERS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORK OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE JOURNALISM?

MICHELLE: THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL REMAINS THE NATION'S OLDEST CONTINUALLY PUBLISHED DAILY.

THIS FOOTAGE FROM THE 1970'S SHOW HOW EMPLOYEES USED THE PUT THE PAPER TOGETHER.

A FAR DIFFERENT SCENE FROM WHEN THE PAPER STARTED OUT IN 1829, TYPESET BY HAND AND PRESSED ONE PAGE AT A TIME.

BUT AS TIMES CHANGE SO HAS THE WAY PEOPLE CONSUME NEWS.

FROM 2004 TO 2019, RHODE ISLAND SAW A 54% DROP IN NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION.

THE LARGEST DECLINED AMONG STATES IN NEW ENGLAND.

>> I THINK WE ALL SEE THE FUTURE HERE IS DIGITAL.

I DON'T MEAN ANYTIME SOON THERE WILL BE A PRINTED PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

I DON'T THINK THAT ALL.

BUT THE WORLD IS HEADED IN A DIGITAL DIRECTION.

OUR ATTENTION IS IN THE DIGITAL REALM.

IT IS ON VIDEO, ON PODCASTS, ON PHOTO GALLERIES.

IT IS ON SERVING DIGITAL CUSTOMERS AND BUILDING THAT BUSINESS WE CAN SEE IS OUR FUTURE.

MICHELLE: THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL STAFF WAS ONCE BIG ENOUGH THAT IT OCCUPIED ALL FOUR FLOORS AT 75 GAVIN ST IN PROVIDENCE -- 75 FOUNTAIN STREET IN PROVIDENCE WITH 300 EMPLOYEES WORKING THERE AND IN BUREAUS ACROSS THE REGION.

NOW THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL FUSES MOST OF THE SECOND FLOOR.

ROSENBERG SAYS THE PAPER HAS A DOZEN NEWS REPORTERS.

HOW DAMAGING IS IT TO A DEMOCRACY WHEN YOU SEE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SHUTTER COMPLETELY OR DOWNSIZED SIGNIFICANTLY?

>> IT'S DEVASTATING.

MICHELLE: JAMES BISETT IS THE SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR AT PROVIDENCE NEWS.

HE SAYS DOWNSIZING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A VACUUM OF COVERAGE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

HE SAYS THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL HAS TWO STRONG POLITICAL REPORTERS, BUT WISHES MORE NEWSPAPERS WERE ALSO COVERING THE STATEHOUSE FULL-TIME.

>> GIVEN RHODE ISLAND'S REPUTATION OF HOW THE GENERALIST ONLY OPERATES, THAT'S A SCARY PROPOSITION.

WHEN YOU HAVE NO COP ON THE BEAT AND A SOCIAL NETWORK WHERE THE TRUTH IS REALLY BLURRED OR NOT PROMOTED, TO SAY DEVASTATING TO THE DEMOCRACY IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT.

MICHELLE: THE NUMBER OF REPORTERS COVERING STATE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THINNING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY IS MORE THAN 2000 NEWSPAPERS HAVE BEEN SHUTTERED SINCE 2004.

STUDY SHOW THAT A CLIENT AND LOCAL REPORTING LEADS TO CITIZENS WHO ARE LESS POLITICALLY ENGAGED AND POLITICAL LEADERS TO BEHAVE WITH LESS INTEGRITY.

WHILE RHODE ISLAND IS NOT CONSIDERED A NEWS DESERT AS OUR SEVEN DAILY NEWSPAPERS THAT SERVE COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE AND MORE THAN 20 WEEKLY PAPERS, THE INDUSTRY HAS HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS.

THE NEWS INDUSTRY WAS HURTING LONG BEFORE COVID-19 ENTERED THE PICTURE.

TAKE GEANET.

IT OWNS THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

WHEN THEY MERGED WITH GATEHOUSE MEDIA AND LATE 2019, THERE WERE LAYOFFS.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT MORE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL WERE FORCED TO TAKE FURLOUGHS.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH YOUR STAFF THAT THEY WOULD BE ON ROLLING FURLOUGHS?

>> AND MADE IT EASIER THAT I WAS DOING IT.

WE WERE ALL IN IT TOGETHER.

EVEN THOUGH NONE OF US WELCOMED IT, PARTLY FOR THE MONEY, ALTHOUGH THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT MADE THAT LESS PAINFUL, THEN NEWS IS NOT SOMETHING TO DO BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET RICH.

YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU CARE.

YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO INFORM THE PEOPLE, TELL THE STORIES OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART, KNOWING THIS HUGE, HUGE STORY WAS GOING ON AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP STEPPING BACK FROM IT BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT THIS PANDEMIC BROUGHT AS BUSINESSES WERE MAINSTAYS OF THE ADVERTISING STOPPED ADVERTISING BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESS CHALLENGES.

MICHELLE: DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, ROSENBERG SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS PRESENTED OPPORTUNITIES.

WHEN WE SPOKE IN OCTOBER, HE SAID DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE UP BY NEARLY 40% SINCE MARCH.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PANDEMIC BUT IN A WAY IT'S BEEN GOOD FOR BUSINESS FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> KISS ME GOOD FOR OUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS -- IT HAS BEEN GOOD FOR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.

WHEN THERE IS BIG NEWS PEOPLE TURN TO TRUSTED VOICES.

THEY TURNED TO VOICES THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR GENERATIONS WILL GIVE YOU THE STRAIGHT SCOOP.

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED DURING THIS TERRIBLE TIME FOR THE STATE AND FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND HAVE SAID, YES, I NEED TO READ THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL BECAUSE THEY WILL GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT.

MICHELLE: ANOTHER POWER PLAYER IS COMPETING FOR THE TIME AND ATTENTION OF RHODE ISLANDERS.

A GOOD STORY TRANSCENDS LOCATION.

THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD STORIES HERE.

MICHELLE: THE BOSTON GLOBE OPEN TO NEWSROOM IN RHODE ISLAND IN JUNE OF 2019, HIRING THREE JOURNALISTS WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE COVERING NEWS IN THE STATE.

LILA ALFONSE IS A RHODE ISLAND EDITOR FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE.

SHE SAYS THE GLOBE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF CHANGES HAPPENING AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL.

LILA: THE NEWSROOM HAS SHRUNK.

MANY GOOD, STRONG LOCAL PAPERS HAVE SEEN DOWNSIZING IN THE LAST DECADE.

I THINK THAT WAS ONE MAJOR CHANGE.

FEWER BODIES MEANS YOU CAN COVER FEWER STORIES.

FEWER RESOURCES MEANS YOU CAN'T COVER STORIES AND THE DEPTH THEY DESERVE.

NOTICING THAT CHANGE REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE OPPORTUNITY THERE WAS FOR US TO COVER SOME OF THOSE STORIES AND FILL GAPS WITHOUT HURTING ANY ESTABLISHED PAPERS AND ALICE IN THE AREA.

-- OUTLETS IN THE AREA.

MICHELLE: WHAT YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO PUSH THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL OUT OF BUSINESS?

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET READERS IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND ALL THE COVERAGE THEY DESERVE.

ALL THE COVERS THEY NEED, THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.

IT IS MORE OF A TEAM EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT IN DIRECT MITIGATION OR COORDINATIN.

IT IS DEFINITELY ABOUT SEEING WHAT IS NOT COVERED AND COVER THAT RATHER THAN TRYING TO BEAT ANY WENT TO A STORY.

MICHELLE: YOU ARE COMPETITORS.

>> IN THE SENSE THAT ALL NEWSPAPERS ARE PREDATORS.

I WOULD NOT SAY WE ARE COMPETING WITH ANY PARTICULAR OUTLET.

WE ARE COMPETING FOR READERS' TIME.

MICHELLE: SHE SAYS THE BOSTON GLOBE IS A WHERE THE COMPETITOR.

>> THEY HAVE GOOD REPORTERS.

WE HAVE MORE REPORTERS COVERING RHODE ISLAND.

WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF THE BOSTON GLOBE.

I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD STORY TO TELL.

WE TELL VERY GOOD STORIES EVERY DAY.

THE BOSTON GLOBE IS GOING TO GET GOOD STORIES.

THEY HAVE GOOD PEOPLE AND THAT'S GREAT.

THAT'S GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.

TO HAVE SO MANY GOOD JOURNALISTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF RHODE ISLANDERS UNDERSTAND HOW BLESSED THEY ARE TO HAVE A WEALTH OF GOOD JOURNALISTS ORGANIZATIONS COVERING THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: IT IS THE STORIES THAT ALFONSE SAYS ARE NOT EXTENSIVELY COVERED THAT PEAK HER CURIOSITY.

>> I SEE COVERAGE AND NOT BUSINESS PER SE BUT THE ECONOMY, THE BLUE ECONOMY.

THINGS HAVING TO DO WITH THE OCEAN-MARITIME BUSINESSES, JOBS AND JOB AVAILABILITY, WORKFORCE ISSUES.

I SEE SOME GAPS THERE, AND IN COVERING HIGHER EDUCATION.

MICHELLE: SINCE THE GLOBE EXPANDED, ALFONSE SAYS IT HAS SEEN A 284% INCREASE IN DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS OF THE STATE.

AS FOR HOW THE GLOBE PLANS TO HOLD ONTO NEW READERS, ALFONSE SAYS THE PAPER IS EXPANDING ITS RHODE ISLAND COVERAGE BY HIRING MORE RHODE ISLAND REPORTERS.

>> WE ARE DOING MORE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

MORE WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGY.

WE ARE DOING MORE OUTREACH.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HOSTING THEM AD SUPPORTING THEM, AND CONCEIVING OF THEM.

I THINK IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE MORE FROM THE GLOBE.

MICHELLE: SHE IS FORTUNATE TO BE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH AT A TIME WHEN MANY NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT.

>> IT IS REALLY RARE, ESPECIALLY NOW TO BE ABLE TO SAVE MY BOSS IS TELLING ME TO INNOVATE.

MY BOSS IS TELLING ME TO TRY THINGS.

YEAH, GO AHEAD AND LAUNCH THAT AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

THEY ARE PUTTING THE RESOURCES INTO THIS INITIATIVE.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SEE A LOT OF.

IT'S A REALLY WINTER -- WONDERFUL POSITION TO BE IN.

MICHELLE: BASET SAYS SMALLER PAPERS OF HELP FILL THE VOID.

>> THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO CUMBERLAND OR WITH SOCKET ON A REGULAR BASIS.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE KENTUCKY TIMES -- NANTUCKET TIMES.

WHILE THE BIGGER CHAINS HAVE DROPPED DOWN THE VALUE OF THE LOCALIZED WEEKLIES HAVE GONE UP.

MICHELLE: HE DOES NOT ANTICIPATE ANY PAPERS IN RHODE ISLAND CLOSING AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT SAYS IS A CRUCIAL TIME.

>> WHAT THEY DO NOW IS CRITICAL FOR THEM TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR -- TO STILL BE IN OPERATION 5, 10, 15, 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

MICHELLE: THAT BRINGS US BACK TO JOHN.

HE'S BEEN RUNNING THE WARWICK BEACON FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES.

WITH ALL THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE PANDEMIC HAPPY THOUGHT, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO RETIRE.

LET ME SELL THE PAPER.

>> I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

I DON'T SEE ANY BUYERS TO BEGIN WITH.

THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BUY IT?

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T SEE A YOUNGER GENERATION SAYING -- AT THE DOOR SAYING THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO GO.

MICHELLE: IF THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR SAYING I'M INTERESTED?

>> I WOULD LOVE THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SAY OK. LET ME SIT BESIDE YOU AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THIS CARRY-ON.

MICHELLE: JOHN REMAINS WORKING WITHOUT A PAYCHECK.

HE SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK THE TUESDAY EDITION OF THE WARWICK BEGIN, BUT HE DOES NOT SEE IT HAPPENING FOR A WHILE BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE IN ADVERTISING REVENUE BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE EDITOR TO SUCCEED ALAN ROSENBERG.

FOR OUR NEXT ARRAY WE LOOK BACK SOME 50 YEARS.

IN THE 1960'S AND 1970'S AS THE VIETNAM ESCALATED AND UNREST AT HOME WAS GROWING, HUNDREDS OF UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS BEGAN CROPPING UP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, GIVING VOICE TO A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED THEY WERE BEING IGNORED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

TONIGHT WE BRING YOU A PORTION OF A DOCUMENTARY BY RHODE ISLAND PBS PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR DOROTHY DICKEY.

"UNDER THE GROUND: THE STORY OF LIBERATION NEW SERVICE" EXPLORES NEWS MEDIA DURING A CROSSROADS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

HE LOOKED AT THE CONTRIBUTION OF A NEWS SERVICE AND THE UNDERGROUND PRESS IT SERVED TO THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FABRIC OF THE COUNTRY.

[NEWSPAPERS TYPING] >> YOU WANT ME TO START FROM THE TOP?

>> YES.

>> BY 1967, THERE WAS THE PSYCHOTIC EDGE IN AMERICA.

IT WAS TOTAL CHAOS.

ABSOLUTE CHAOS.

WE WENT TO DEMONSTRATIONS, GOT HIT OVER THE HEAD AND READ ABOUT HOW WE ASSAULTED POLICE WITH BILLY CLUBS.

WE WERE HORRIFIED BY WHAT WAS GOING ON IN VIETNAM.

>> WE COULDN'T GO ON WITH THE LIVES OUR PRIVILEGE WOULD PREPARE US FOR BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH DRASTIC TIMES.

>> THE MURDER OF VIETNAMESE AND BLACK AMERICANS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO THE DRAFT.

>> IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO HAVE A NEW SERVICE.

IN 1967, EVERY BIG CITY IN AMERICA HAD AN UNDERGROUND PAPER.

IT WAS A HUGE MOVEMENT.

>> IT WENT FROM FIVE PAPERS BY 1966 TO LITERALLY 1000 PAPERS BY 1969 OR 1970.

>> THE PEOPLE THAT WROTE FOR THE UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS, WE WERE MOTIVATED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COVERAGE.

THAT WAS A GROWING SENTIMENT.

I THINK THE UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPERS REALLY ROSE UP TO FILL A VOID.

BOTH THE STUDENT MEDIA AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA, BUT WE CALL THE STRAIGHT MEDIA TO MINIMIZE THE PRESENCE OF AN ANTIWAR CONSTITUENCY.

>> THE MAIN MOTIVATOR FOR THE UNDERGROUND PRESS AT THAT POINT WAS THE OVERRIDING OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE WERE ALL DRAFT AGE.

>> MANY PAPERS BECAME RADICAL ANTIWAR AS WELL.

WE FIGURED WE HAD AT LEAST A FEW HUNDRED NEWSPAPERS.

OFFERED A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE OF RADICAL LEFT-WING, ANTIWAR NEWS.

>> IT WAS BEFORE THE INTERNET, BEFORE CELL PHONES.

IT WAS LIKE A PRECURSOR TO SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE ONCE WE GOT IT OUT, THE PAPERS WE PRODUCED -- REPRODUCE OUR ARTICLES.

WE WERE EMPOWERING THEM.

WE WERE SO PASSIONATE AND WE FELT AS IF WE WERE HAVING A MAJOR EFFECT ON GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.

THIS WAS SUCH A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY.

WE WANTED TO BE A PART OF MAKING THE WORLD BETTER.

>> START TALKING?

>> YES.

>> I WAS FROM LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

I WAS GROWING UP IN THE 1950'S, IT WAS SIMPLY A WORKING-CLASS TOWN.

I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A WRITER.

I READ SO MANY BOOKS THAT THE LIBRARY HAD TO GIVE ME AN ADULT LIBRARY CARD WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

I WAS THE ONLY PERSON MY FAMILY THAT EVER DID GO TO COLLEGE.

I ARRIVED AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY.

I WAS POLITICALLY COMPLETELY NAIVE.

I THOUGHT JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL PRESIDENT WE'VE EVER HAD, A CATHOLIC.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL I KNEW ABOUT POLITICS.

I WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST BUT NOT A POLITICAL JOURNALIST.

MY GOAL WAS TO BE THE THEATER CRITIC FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES.

MY FRESHMAN YEAR I STARTED WORKING FOR THE NEWS.

IT WAS THE HARDEST WORKING AND MOST OFTEN PUBLISHED.

I WAS SOMEONE THAT WORKED 60 HOURS A WEEK.

IT WAS MY LIFE.

I KEPT MY POLITICAL VIEWS PRETTY MUCH TO MYSELF BECAUSE AS MY POLITICS WERE EVOLVING AND GETTING MORE LEFT-WING I KNEW IF I DID ANYTHING TO RADICAL OR TOO OBVIOUS MIGHT PREVENT ME BEING THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER.

WHEN I FINALLY GOT ELECTED SENIOR YEAR TO BE THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER, I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO LET IT ALL HANG OUT.

>> THE DATE IS OCTOBER 16, 1967.

THE OCCASION IS A RALLY TO MOBILIZE AMERICAN YOUTH TO RESIST THE DRAFT.

>> I'M NOT AFRAID OF JAIL.

I'M AFRAID OF KILLING PEOPLE AND BEING KILLED.

I'M AFRAID OF THIS WHOLE PLANET GOING UP IN SMOKE.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY, JAIL IS NOT TO BE FEARED.

JAIL IS AN HONORABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THIS WAR IN VIETNAM.

>> I WROTE INFLAMMATORY EDITORIALS IN ALL KIND OF CRUSADES, ANTIWAR STUFF, PRO-ABORTION.

THIS INCREDIBLY CONTROVERSIAL THINGS.

>> I WAS A STUDENT EDITOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DAILY.

THERE WAS A CONFERENCE IN D.C. OF THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.

RAYMOND WAS ON A STAGE WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS FROM THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION.

RAYMOND GAVE THIS INCREDIBLY RADICAL, BRILLIANT SPEECH DEMANDING LYNDON JOHNSON BE IMPEACHED FOR THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

>> THE IDEA OF SUGGESTING WE SHOULD IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT WAS SO WILD, SO INCREDIBLY RADICAL THAT THE PRESIDENT OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY SENT A TELEGRAM TO EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, HUNDREDS OF TELEGRAMS ON THE DAY THE EDITORIAL APPEARED SAYING A SMALL GROUP OF EXTREMELY RADICAL STUDENTS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SEIZED CONTROL OF THE NEWSPAPER.

THEY DID NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY.

>> HE WROTE THIS EDTORIAL AND SHOWED IT TO US.

WE WENT MY GOD, IMPEACHED.

NO ONE TALKED ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.

>> IT LANDED ON PAGE ONE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTRY.

STUDENT CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT.

PEOPLE'S HAIR STOOD ON END.

THE ADMINISTRATION WAS CORRECT.

WE DID NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

THE BOYS FROM THE FRATERNITY HOUSE, THAT WAS HILARIOUS.

I WAS SURE I WOULD BE FIRED FROM THAT JOB.

THEY SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY CANNED ME.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE RIOTS BECAUSE OF THAT.

WHEN I WAS THE EDITOR, IT WAS THE ONLY U.S. COLLEGE PUBLICATION THAT HAD REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS IN VIETNAM.

WE HAD A CANADIAN KID.

HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE A YEAR OFF FROM SCHOOL WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING DRAFTED.

THE NEWS HAD ITS OWN STAFF IN VIETNAM.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO DOROTHY DICKEY.

TO SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, RIPBS.ORG.

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES KIDS WANT TO KNOW, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF LOCAL NEWS.

W PRI REPORTER KIM KALUNIAN OFFERS ANSWERS.

>> I'M A SENIOR AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, HOW WAS THE LOSS OF TRUST IN THE NEWS MEDIA AFFECTED YOU AS A PROFESSIONAL?

WHAT STEPS CAN JOURNALIST TAKE TO RESTORE THAT TRUST?

KIM: THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

THE WAY THE LACK OF TRUST IN NEWS MAY YET MANIFESTED AS EVERYTHING FROM FOLKS NOT WANTED TO DO INTERVIEWS TO PEOPLE CALLING HIS FAKE NEWS, TATE EVEN THREATS OF PHYSICAL HARM.

I DO THINK THERE IS STILL TRUST IN THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.

THE PEOPLE YOU SEE ON YOUR LOCAL TV STATIONS ARE NOT JUST REPORTING ON THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A PART OF IT.

WE SHOP AT THE SAME STORES, OUR KIDS ARE IN THE SAME SCHOOLS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND FOLKS WE CARE ABOUT THESE COMMUNITIES JUST AS MUCH AS VIEWERS DO.

I THINK THAT IS PART OF WHERE WE BEGIN TO BUILD TRUST BACK, BY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT, MAKING PEOPLE FEEL HEARD AND CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON STORIES THAT ARE RELEVANT, IMPORTANT, AND TIMELY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ALWAYS REMEMBERING TO BE FAIR AND HONEST AND TO GET THINGS RIGHT.

>> WITH THE GROWING PROMINENCE OF DIGITAL MEDIA, HOW HAS IT AFFECTED TELEVISION NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES IT HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS?

KIM: THAT'S A TOPIC A LOT OF NEWSROOMS ARE THINKING ABOUT.

NOT JUST TELEVISION BUT MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CONSTANTLY REINVENT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS.

FOR US AT 12 NEWS, OUR WEBSITE IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.

WE PUT EVERYTHING ON THEREFROM LONGER FORM DOCUMENTARY-STYLE REPORTING TO SHORTEN VIDEOS.

OUR IN-DEPTH WEB STORIES.

THE OTHER THING IS WE ARE NOW CASTING A WIDER NET FOR TALENT AND HIRING FOLKS WHO TYPICALLY WOULD NOT BE HIRED AT A TV STATION 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO.

FOLKS WITH NEWSPAPER BACKGROUNDS OR SPEND THEIR DAYS LOOKING AT NUMBERS AND CRUNCHING DATA.

AS FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, I WISH I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL.

I THINK THE KEY TO THE FUTURE IS IN THE PAST.

FOR US AT 12 NEWS, WE HAVE MORE THAN SIX DECADES OF TRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR NEWS COVERAGE.

I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD OFF THAT STRONG FOUNDATION AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND ADAPT IN STUDENTS LIKE YOU BECOME OUR NEW VIEWERS.

>> MY NAME IS RACHEL SMITH AND I'M A SENIOR AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW DO OBJECTIVE NEWS SOURCES COMPETE WITH BIAS NEWS SOURCES AND CLINICAL REPORTING?

-- IN POLITICAL REPORTING?

KIM: THE ANSWER LIES IN YOUR QUESTION ITSELF.

OBJECTIVE VERSUS BIAS NEWS SOURCES.

PEOPLE ARE REALIZING SOME OF THE NEWS THEY ARE CONSUMING IS OPINIONATED.

BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH OF A COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO.

EITHER YOU WANT STRAIGHT, DOWN THE MIDDLE, UNBIASED COVERAGE OR MAYBE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS INTO YOUR NATURAL OPINION, INFOTAINMENT IF YOU WILL.

WHEN FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR TRUSTED LOCAL COVERAGE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD THAT IS STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, THEY TURN ON THEIR LOCAL TV STATIONS OR PICK UP THEIR LOCAL NEWSPAPER.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO KIM KALUNIAN AND THE STUDENTS AT LIGON HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪