The recent firing of the editor of the Los Angeles Times after he refused to implement further cuts in newsroom staff is another reminder of the growing unwillingness of US daily newspapers to provide the independent, high-quality journalism so essential for an informed citizenry.

According to a Project for Excellence in Journalism report issued last year, daily papers lost 3,000 newsroom staff from 2003 through 2005. The report estimated that another 1,000 were probably cut in 2006 and that 2007 would bring further deep cuts. Weekly news magazines experienced similar reductions.