The Fourth Estate Redux

I have fretted in the past about the decline of newspapers and, unlike some, am not convinced that blogs and on-line media will be able to fulfill the same roll that newspapers play in a democracy.  Anyway, more fuel for my paranoia, Washington News Bureaus are shrinking and disappearing.  The link is to an excellent New York Times article - highly recommended - and addresses some of the issues about why I think that local dailies are indispensable.