09/10/2025
Delivering the news your way – as long as possible
By Nate Abraham Jr.
COMMENTARY
Even for those of us in the newspaper industry, news coming out of Atlanta was a shock. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) has announced it will stop printing newspapers at the end of this year, transitioning to a fully digital format and closing a historic chapter in Georgia journalism. This move is both a sign of the times and a reflection of deeper currents transforming the local news ecosystem across America.
Several newspapers across the country have made a similar move. It started about five years ago when a newspaper in Arkansas sold its printing plant and sent tablets all of their subscribers to read an e-edition of the newspaper on. Last year, The State newspaper sent tablets to its subscribers, but they still print the newspaper.
As a subscriber, I got a tablet. But to me, the experience of reading the newspaper on a small screen cannot compare to the feeling of holding paper in my hands.
Carolina Panorama readers can also read the newspaper on their tablets. We provide our readers the ability to access our news articles in as many ways as possible. You can pick up a printed copy, view it on a table, smart phone, read articles on our website, or even click on a link to have the article read to you. This month, we will launch a weekly podcast that will discuss all the news we covered that week.
We don’t know how long we will be able to remain in print. The cost of newsprint is increasing, and print advertising revenue remains flat. Eventually, printing the newspaper may become untenable.
The Carolina Panorama Newspaper stands firm in its pledge to remain in print as long as possible, defending the tactile, communal experience of a physical newspaper amidst sweeping digital change. The Carolina Panorama’s print edition delivers hyper-local news to its readers, especially stories affecting African-American communities across Columbia and the Midlands region. We view print as a tool for inclusion—ensuring that accomplishments and daily lives in underserved neighborhoods are documented and celebrated without being filtered through wire services or national syndicates. For many, the ritual of picking up the newspaper at local businesses or churches is a weekly act of connection.
Print circulation matters deeply in areas with limited digital access, older residents, or those who simply prefer the reliability and permanence of news in hand. The Carolina Panorama preserves the sort of coverage and reach that cannot be matched by online-only models, especially among audiences who rely on physical media for staying informed. Print also helps maintain trust—readers know where their news comes from, and advertisers value the tangible placement of community announcements.
Remaining in print is both a tradition and a civic duty. Local newspapers in print serve as public records—archiving local events, voices, and milestones that might otherwise be lost in digital churn. Print upholds a “town square” mentality, gathering diverse community members around shared stories and local priorities, week after week.
As long as readers pick up Carolina Panorama and engage with its stories, the call to remain in print will outweigh the pressure to go digital-only. The ink on its pages remains a symbol: This community is still worth showing up for, and its stories are still worth telling the old-fashioned way.
You can help. Purchase an ad – in our printed edition or our websites -- to promote your business, organization or event. (We have interactive and creative digital ads that no one else in the Midlands have.). List and sell tickets to your events on CarolinaBoxOffice.com. Place your legal notices or public announces in our newspaper. Encourage others to advertise their businesses in our newspaper as well.
You can also make a donation to support our efforts. On our websites (www.CarolinaPanorama.com or www.LowcountryPanorama.com), click on the Donation button in the menu bar. You can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly contribution. Every little bit helps.
We want to thank those of you who have encouraged and supported us for nearly forty years. With your help and/or donation, we can serve forty more.
