Rocky Mountain newspaper published its final paper on Friday as newspaper publishers around the country are trying to stay alive in a tough environment that includes the effects of the financial crisis as well as classified advertisement competitions from online alternatives.

One of the sad parts for newspapers to go out of business is a loss of public scrutiny against local government corruption and other high level scandals. It is the investigative reporters that have kept government officials in check, and for many a local newspaper is the main outlet for day-to-day information, despite the wide availability of internet computers.

But the problem with the newspaper industry, many have suggested, is that the business has been quite slow in adapting to the new environment. The old business model that many of the papers were using just did not compete against the continuously changing climate. The internet is the biggest factor in terms of affecting the outcome of the newspaper’s business models. Now, many newspapers have integrated blogs and multimedia content to have a more presentable stage online.

Unfortunately, we are at a financial crisis, and many newspapers have little or no cash to spare. Circulations have been slow for many newspapers, and the number of newspapers going out of business is growing in the short term. The tragedy behind a death of a newspaper is that there are hundreds of talented journalists, who are a critical component in this in the age of democracy, will be out of a job.