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For the past few months, I’ve shared stories about the perilous state of the local free press in these columns. I’ve written about what the decline of strong local reporting will mean for democracy. And I’ve suggested ways that newspapers might reinvent themselves and the government might help save this struggling industry.

An astute email from reader Hilary Hilscher reminded me that I’d left out a big piece of the puzzle.

“I’ve read your columns in The Seattle Times with great interest and, of course, total agreement with the need to preserve the free press if democracy is to c...