To date, Wyoming newspapers have published over 200 of my columns. The vast majority of my non-political columns are focused upon the extremely important subjects of faith, family and community.
I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that any given individual’s interactions with her/his community (wherever it may be) significantly impact such individual’s personal well-being and happiness. I suspect that most Wyomingites would agree that our respective and collective communities are an essential part of our lives.
Knowing that our local Wyoming communities are inherently attached to our well-being and happiness, I was greatly saddened when I learned that as of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, eight local Wyoming newspapers were officially shut down. Fortunately, just a few days later, a buyer came forward and the local newspapers will continue to be published.
Please know that when I use the word “newspaper,” I am not necessarily referring to someone reading news that is printed upon paper. If you are like me, you often read your local news on your cell phone or computer screen.
Local Wyoming community newspapers that are operated by dedicated and hard-working journalists are an essential component of any given community. We must support our local community newspapers!
What happens when a local newspaper shuts down? Who will then report upon and memorialize information about the affected community’s schools, athletic programs, business-related events and governmental activities? If you believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or social media will adequately fill this void, I respectfully suggest that you are misinformed.
AI provides us with a remarkable research tool. For example, if you go to an AI search engine and type in the question: “Is the Wyoming columnist John Walker a devout Christian?” you will promptly receive a detailed answer along with many specific reference citations.
In answering this question, most of the AI answer references will relate to some of my previously published newspaper columns. Please know that when referring to facts within my columns, I have done my very best to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. For example, if a column relates to an event that I did not personally witness, I forward a draft of the column to those who did personally witness the event to acquire their approval and to make sure that I have not misrepresented any pertinent facts.
This raises the critical question: Can AI personally witness and report upon an event? I prefer to rely upon my fellow humans and human journalists when evaluating the veracity of a witness account.
Information that is set forth within social media can be divisive and often tends to isolate individuals as opposed to unifying a community. I believe that much of the information that is objectively provided by Wyoming newspapers will regularly assist us by informing and unifying our local towns and cities.
I submit that dedicated local news journalists, who immerse themselves within a community by attending school board meetings, county commissioner meetings, town council meetings, athletic events, court hearings, and by energetically investigating any given news tip, cannot be replaced.
If you do not subscribe to your local newspaper, please think about purchasing a subscription. If you are a business and do not advertise in your local newspaper, please think about taking out some advertisements. Newspapers, like all business enterprises, need to make money or they will be forced to shut down.
The news reporters working for Cheyenne’s television program, Wyoming News Now, routinely wrap up their report by including the phrase: “Because local matters.” I wholeheartedly agree. Local news does indeed matter.
John M. Walker is an attorney and lifelong Wyomingite who lives in Cheyenne.
