[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.25,0:00:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been a journalist\Nfor more than 23 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.79,0:00:16.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.27,0:00:18.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Pittsburgh Tribune Review,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.87,0:00:21.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most recently, The Denver Post.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.76,0:00:22.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.76,0:00:28.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being a journalist has shaped\Nevery aspect of my identity.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.31,0:00:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're trained to evaluate\Nthe evidence from all relevant angles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.51,0:00:35.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We seek credible, reliable sources,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.74,0:00:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,double-check and triple-check\Nour information,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.60,0:00:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then check it again.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.65,0:00:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we do make mistakes, we correct them.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.15,0:00:47.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's made me careful,\Ndisciplined and thorough.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.01,0:00:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I distrust ideological purity
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.48,0:00:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and vote for Republicans\Nand Democrats alike.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.27,0:00:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've tasted pepper spray,\Ncovering protests,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.12,0:01:00.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I've never participated in one.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.78,0:01:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps, the most\Nradical thing I've ever done
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.25,0:01:05.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was getting my ear pierced.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.27,0:01:06.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.83,0:01:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as journalist,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.82,0:01:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is ingrained in us
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.48,0:01:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that when something goes terribly wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.92,0:01:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you sound the alarm.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.74,0:01:17.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's why I'm on this stage today,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.12,0:01:19.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when it comes\Nto the state of local news,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.76,0:01:22.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something has gone terribly wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.28,0:01:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.24,0:01:32.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So consider this talk a protest.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.75,0:01:33.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.26,0:01:39.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I started at The Denver Post in 2003,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.87,0:01:43.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was among the country's\N10 largest newspapers,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.19,0:01:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with an impressive subscriber base\Nand nearly 300 journalists.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.60,0:01:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before my wife and I\Ncould even unpack from the move,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.93,0:01:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they sent me to Eagle, Colorado.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.62,0:01:57.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A young hotel desk clerk
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.29,0:02:01.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had accused basketball superstar\NKobe Bryant of rape.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.80,0:02:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Denver Post showed up\Nin force, with a big team
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.27,0:02:07.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that covered the story and its aftermath
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.39,0:02:10.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from seemingly every conceivable angle.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.03,0:02:13.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the time, I was in my 30s.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.53,0:02:15.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Any ambitious journalist that age
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.37,0:02:17.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aspires to work for one\Nof the big national papers,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.86,0:02:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like The New York Times\Nor The Wall Street Journal.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.75,0:02:22.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I was simply blown away
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.55,0:02:25.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by my first few weeks at The Denver Post,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.26,0:02:28.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I thought, "This\Nis going to be my paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.23,0:02:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can make a career right here."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.66,0:02:32.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, seven years passed,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.77,0:02:34.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we were sold to a hedge fund:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.07,0:02:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alden Global Capital.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.72,0:02:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within a few years,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.40,0:02:41.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buyouts ordered by past and present owners
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.92,0:02:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would reduce the newsroom by nearly half.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.84,0:02:47.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I understood,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.60,0:02:52.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the rule of thumb used to be\Nthat 80% of a newspaper's revenue
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.32,0:02:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came from pricey print ads\Nand classifieds.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.66,0:02:59.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With emerging giants like Google\Nand Facebook and Craigslist,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.46,0:03:02.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those advertising dollars\Nwere evaporating.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.18,0:03:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The entire industry\Nwas undergoing a massive shift
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.19,0:03:06.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from print to digital.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.02,0:03:10.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alden's orders were to be digital first,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.49,0:03:14.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take advantage of blogs,\Nvideo and social media.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.74,0:03:18.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said that one day,\Nthe money we made online
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.46,0:03:21.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would make up\Nfor the money we lost in print.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.68,0:03:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that day never came.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.28,0:03:28.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2013, we won a Pulitzer Prize
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.63,0:03:31.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for covering the Aurora Theatre shooting.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.18,0:03:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alden ordered\Nthat more journalists be cut.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.39,0:03:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.73,0:03:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and again
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.06,0:03:39.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and again
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.10,0:03:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and again,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.31,0:03:43.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were forced to say goodbye
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.34,0:03:45.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talented, hardworking journalists
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.81,0:03:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we considered not just friends,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.97,0:03:49.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but family.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.84,0:03:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those of us left behind\Nwere stretched impossibly thin,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.76,0:03:55.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,covering multiple beats
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.64,0:03:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and writing rushed articles.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.13,0:04:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2016, I was promoted\Nto my dream job:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.25,0:04:03.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the editorial-page editor.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.40,0:04:05.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the access I had ...
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.24,0:04:06.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On any given day,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.77,0:04:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I talked to senators,\Nbillionaires, mayors, chiefs of police,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.77,0:04:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the leaders of large grassroots\Norganizations and nonprofits.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.61,0:04:18.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People of influence across the state
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.60,0:04:22.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started their day\Nreading our editorial page.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.54,0:04:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've never loved a job more.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.24,0:04:27.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I turned 50 that January.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.49,0:04:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At any other time \Nin the history of journalism,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.95,0:04:35.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would've had every right\Nto believe I had it made,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.19,0:04:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that dream job\Nwouldn't even last two years.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.91,0:04:44.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inside a windowless\Nmeeting room in March of 2018,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.88,0:04:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we learned that 30 more would have to go.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.43,0:04:52.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This paper that once had 300 journalists
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.44,0:04:55.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would now have 70.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.62,0:04:58.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it didn't make sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.57,0:05:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here we'd won multiple Pulitzer Prizes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.77,0:05:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We shifted our focus from print to digital.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.05,0:05:05.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We hit ambitious targets.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.91,0:05:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An email from The Brass talked up\Nthe Post profit margins,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.49,0:05:15.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which industry experts\Npegged at nearly 20%.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.52,0:05:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if our company was so successful \Nand so profitable,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.52,0:05:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why was our newsroom\Ngetting so much smaller and smaller?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.67,0:05:30.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew that what was happening in Colorado\Nwas happening around the country.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.78,0:05:32.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since 2004,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.76,0:05:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nearly 1,800 newsrooms have closed.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.06,0:05:38.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've heard of food deserts.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.56,0:05:41.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are news deserts.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.62,0:05:42.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.81,0:05:44.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often entire counties,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.67,0:05:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with little to zero\Nnews coverage whatsoever.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.78,0:05:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Making matters worse,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.28,0:05:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many papers have become ghost ships,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.30,0:05:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretending to sail with a newsroom
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.62,0:05:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but really just wrapping ads\Naround filler copy.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.44,0:06:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,More and more newsrooms\Nare being sold off
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.64,0:06:04.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to companies like Alden,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.83,0:06:09.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in that meeting, their intentions\Ncouldn't have been clearer.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.71,0:06:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Harvest what you can.\NThrow away what's left."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.57,0:06:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A reporter cried out, and I thought,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.98,0:06:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"They just killed The Denver Post."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.96,0:06:24.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I fell into major depression.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.55,0:06:27.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of us did.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.01,0:06:32.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a journal entry, I wrote,\N"I wished I had died in my sleep."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.96,0:06:34.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My entire career,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.04,0:06:37.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this institution I so believed in
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.99,0:06:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were disappearing.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.35,0:06:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought I had nothing to live for.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.83,0:06:48.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's when I decided to go rogue.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.06,0:06:51.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.68,0:06:59.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I realized I could use the paper
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.12,0:07:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to call out the owners\Nbefore the city and the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.78,0:07:08.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, working in secret,\Nwith a team of eight writers,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.24,0:07:12.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we prepared a special\NSunday Perspective section
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.06,0:07:14.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the importance of local news,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.48,0:07:18.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the bare-knuckle editorial\Naimed directly at the owners!
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.61,0:07:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either invest in a quality newsroom,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.68,0:07:21.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we argued,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.68,0:07:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sell us to owners who would.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.84,0:07:25.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.84,0:07:28.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I knew the publication\Nof the package
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.62,0:07:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would end my ten year at The Denver Post.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.76,0:07:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.37,0:07:35.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Surely I would be fired\Nor forced to resign.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.02,0:07:38.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when the now-or-never moment arrived,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.03,0:07:40.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wrapped the wall \Nnext to my standing desk -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.65,0:07:43.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the signal that we had\Npublished the package.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.58,0:07:46.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Post it to Twitter! Post it to Facebook!
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.21,0:07:49.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Post it everywhere! Be digital first."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.49,0:07:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.09,0:07:54.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Denver rebellion\Nlaunched like a missile
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.77,0:07:57.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and went off like a hydrogen bomb.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.63,0:08:04.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.07,0:08:18.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Clearly, we weren't alone in our outrage.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.39,0:08:23.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, as expected, I was forced to resign.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.37,0:08:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.88,0:08:27.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a year later, nothing's changed.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.50,0:08:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Denver Post\Nis but a few lone journalists
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.18,0:08:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doing their admirable best
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.93,0:08:35.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this husk of a once great paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.30,0:08:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, at least some of you\Nare thinking to yourself,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.12,0:08:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"So what?" right?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.88,0:08:46.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"So what? Let this dying industry die."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.60,0:08:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I kind of get that.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.37,0:08:52.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one thing, the local news\Nhas been in decline for so long
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.36,0:08:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many of you may not even remember
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.72,0:08:58.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what it's like\Nto have a great local paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.63,0:09:01.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe you've seen "Spotlight"\Nor "The Paper,"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.38,0:09:05.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,movies that romanticize\Nwhat journalism used to be.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.40,0:09:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I'm not here\Nto be romantic or nostalgic.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.86,0:09:13.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm here to warn you\Nthat when local news dies,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.13,0:09:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so does our democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.40,0:09:16.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause.)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.31,0:09:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that should concern you
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.74,0:09:27.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,regardless of whether you're subscribed.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.35,0:09:28.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's why.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.09,0:09:32.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A democracy is a government of the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.02,0:09:37.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People are the ultimate\Nsource of power and authority.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.84,0:09:40.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A great local newsroom\Nacts like a mirror:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.86,0:09:44.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its journalists see the community\Nand reflect it back.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.09,0:09:47.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That information is empowering.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.56,0:09:49.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seeing, knowing, understanding -
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.84,0:09:52.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is how good decisions are made.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.82,0:09:54.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you have a great local paper,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.99,0:09:58.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have journalists\Nsitting in on every city council meeting,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.07,0:10:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,listening in to State House\Nand Senate hearings;
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.57,0:10:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those important but - let's face it -
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.80,0:10:07.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sometimes devastatingly boring \Ncommittee hearings.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.08,0:10:12.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Journalists discover the flaws\Nand ill-conceived measures,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.82,0:10:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and those bills fail because \Nthe public was well-informed.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.64,0:10:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Readers go to the polls,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.67,0:10:21.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they know the pros and cons\Nbehind every ballot measure
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.12,0:10:25.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because journalists\Ndid the heavy lifting for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.48,0:10:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even better:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.85,0:10:29.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,researchers have found\Nthat reading a local paper
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.80,0:10:34.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can mobilize 13% of non-voters to vote.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.84,0:10:36.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,13 percent!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.12,0:10:38.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.36,0:10:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a number that can change\Nthe outcome of many elections.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.10,0:10:47.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When you don't have a great local paper,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.09,0:10:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,voters are left stranded at the polls,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.29,0:10:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,confused,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.41,0:10:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to make their best guess\Nbased on a paragraph of legalese.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.86,0:10:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Flawed measures pass,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.85,0:11:02.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,well-conceived, but\Nhighly technical measures fail.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.60,0:11:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Voters become more partisan.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.23,0:11:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Recently in Colorado,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.37,0:11:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our governor's race had more candidates\Nthan anyone can remember.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.58,0:11:13.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In years passed,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.17,0:11:16.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,journalists would've thoroughly vetted,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.53,0:11:20.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scrutinized, fact-checked,\Nprofiled, debated
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.35,0:11:22.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every contender in the local paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.29,0:11:25.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Denver Post did its best,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.86,0:11:30.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in the place of past levels\Nof rigorous reporting and research,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.10,0:11:32.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the public is increasingly left
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.21,0:11:35.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to interpret dog-and-pony-show\Nstump speeches
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.12,0:11:37.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and clever campaign ads for themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.12,0:11:41.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With advertising costing what it does,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.11,0:11:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electability comes down to money.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.62,0:11:46.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, by the end of the primaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.43,0:11:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the only candidates left standing\Nwere the wealthiest and best funded.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.41,0:11:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many experienced\Nand praise-worthy candidates
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.64,0:11:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never got oxygen.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.62,0:11:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because when local news declines,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.14,0:12:02.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,\Neven big-ticket races become pay-to-play.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.23,0:12:06.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it any surprise\Nthat our new governor
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.31,0:12:09.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the candidate worth\Nmore than 300 million dollars?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.12,0:12:14.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or that billionaire businessmen\Nlike Donald Trump and Howard Schultz
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.38,0:12:16.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can seize the political stage?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.86,0:12:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think this is what\Nthe Founding Fathers had in mind
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.63,0:12:22.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they talked\Nabout free and fair election.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.15,0:12:24.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.73,0:12:36.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this is exactly why we can't\Njust rely on the big national papers,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.36,0:12:39.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like The Journal\Nand The Times and The Post.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.24,0:12:41.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those are tremendous papers,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.07,0:12:44.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we need them now -\Nmy god - more than ever before.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.07,0:12:47.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there is no world\Nin which they could cover
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.08,0:12:51.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every election in every county\Nin the country.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.75,0:12:55.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No! The newsroom best equipped\Nto cover your local election
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.08,0:12:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ought to be your local newsroom -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.81,0:13:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you're lucky and still have one.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.65,0:13:03.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When election day is over,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.90,0:13:08.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a great local paper is still there,\Nwaiting, like a watchdog.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.36,0:13:13.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When they're being watched,\Npoliticians have less power,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.27,0:13:15.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,police do right by the public,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.58,0:13:19.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even massive corporations\Nare on their best behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.36,0:13:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps that's why\NThomas Jefferson once said,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.83,0:13:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Were it left to me to decide
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.06,0:13:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether to have a government\Nwithout newspapers
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.62,0:13:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or newspapers without a government,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.10,0:13:36.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would not hesitate a moment\Nto prefer the latter,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:36.44,0:13:39.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,newspapers without a government!"
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.94,0:13:40.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.98,0:13:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What Jefferson knew and we've forgotten
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.33,0:13:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that it is the press
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.30,0:13:50.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is the check and balance\Nfor our democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.44,0:13:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.97,0:13:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you think that the politicians
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.97,0:14:01.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the corporations\Nand the special interests
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.47,0:14:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are out there getting away with it,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.02,0:14:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is why this mechanism
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.94,0:14:10.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that for generations has helped\Ninform and guide us
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.87,0:14:13.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no longer functions the way it used to.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.68,0:14:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know intimately
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.05,0:14:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the poisoned\Nnational discourse feels like,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.98,0:14:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what a mockery of reasoned\Ndebate it has become.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.99,0:14:26.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what happens\Nwhen local newsrooms shutter
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.22,0:14:30.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and communities across the country\Ngo unwatched and unseen.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:31.42,0:14:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Until we recognize\Nthat the decline of local news
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.90,0:14:37.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has serious consequences for our society,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.86,0:14:40.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this situation will not improve.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.21,0:14:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A properly staffed,\Nlocal newsroom isn't profitable,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.67,0:14:47.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in this age of Google and Facebook,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.19,0:14:48.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not going to be.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.46,0:14:52.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If newspapers are vital to our democracy,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.45,0:14:55.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we should fund them\Nlike they're vital to our democracy.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.46,0:14:57.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.42,0:15:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We cannot stand by\Nand let our watchdogs be put down!
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.66,0:15:09.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can't let more communities\Nvanish into darkness.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.05,0:15:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is time to debate\Na public-funding option
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.94,0:15:15.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the Fourth Estate disappears,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.17,0:15:18.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with it, our grand\Ndemocratic experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.65,0:15:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need much more than a rebellion.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:21.08,0:15:23.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is time for a revolution!
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.77,0:15:24.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.77,0:15:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)