In The Nation, writer Eric Alterman writes that the time is getting late for the newspaper industry -- and why that should matter to all Americans who value democracy:

Evidence of the slow death of the American newspaper has lost its news value in recent years, rather like evidence of the warming of the earth’s atmosphere. As with global warming, we know what we’re losing but remain paralyzed, unable to take significant steps to stop it. The topic comes up on certain occasions: when a media company sees its stock tumble, lays off a significant percentage of its employees, tries (and often fails) to sell itself, merges with another conglomerate to increase “efficiency,” pretends to be some other kind of company with a hipper brand, hires a CEO famed for his or her “turnaround” capabilities, or hands pages over to a right-wing billionaire to use as a daily propaganda pamphlet. Otherwise, the news is like the weather: It’s getting worse and worse, and yet life goes on as if none if this is really happening to us. More here.

Question: Does it matter to you whether or not the newspaper industry survives?