In case you weren't aware, the fall of local newspapers could essentially be the fall of news as we know it.
"The newspaper industry today is in big trouble," John Oliver firmly stated, and without newspapers around to cite, he explained that TV news would crumble, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter would be in chaos, and "stupid shows like Last Week Tonight" would be utterly screwed. But more importantly, without local journalistic watch dogs, local governments could fall into decrepit states of corruption.
Oliver dedicated the latest Last Week Tonight episode to discussing the somewhat confusing transition to "digital first" media and sharing his fears for journalists -- both real and fictional -- who aren't receiving proper pay.
"We've just grown accustomed to getting our news for free, and the longer we get something for free, the less willing we are to pay for it," Oliver said, calling us all out. "I'm talking to you, the person watching this segment on YouTube using the Wi-Fi from the coffee shop underneath your apartment...You're killing us!"
