John Adams — yes, the John Adams, attorney, diplomat, Founding Father — was serving as president of the United States when the newspaper now known as The Star Democrat was born in 1779. Now in its 225th year, the local publication still serves as the paper of record for the people of the Mid-Shore region and is an anchor employer in Talbot County.
Originally named Republican Star, the newspaper has witnessed and reported on the evolution of America, from a fledgling nation to an international superpower. Over the years, the paper’s office burned twice and was ransacked by vandals. It has survived depressions, recessions, pandemics, and political unrest. During the Civil War, the editor was a Southern sympathizer who was forced to flee the area and run the paper from a location deeper in Dixie.
Today, the smell of ink still permeates the newsroom at the paper’s current facility at 29088 Air Park Drive. The printing presses run around the clock to print The Star Democrat, it’s 11 sister papers, and a variety of other magazines and products published by APG Chesapeake, or the Chesapeake division of the Adams Publishing Group.
Doomsayers have been predicting the demise of local newspapers for many years as, one after the other, small publications the world over have shuttered their doors. Declining ad revenue, a demographic shift from print to digital, and the emergence of the “citizen journalist” have taken a toll on the media landscape.
Don’t write the obituary just yet, says Executive Editor Jim Johnson, who now leads the newsroom at The Star Democrat.
“People think newspapers are dying, but we reach more people today than we ever have,” Johnson says. “That’s because we don’t have just the print product. We have our online product. We have a great following on Facebook, and we also produce a number of magazines and other publications. And we do events, lots of events.”
Locals will tell you The Star Democrat has changed, but everyone knows that the newspapers that survive these days must be nimble, resourceful, and resilient. The thing that hasn’t changed is the company’s commitment to the community it serves.
“Really, what we do — and what we’ve done for 225 years — is build community,” Johnson explains. “We’re an integral part of the community, and we help to build that community and build different communities that exist in Easton and on the Eastern Shore.”
Staying relevant in any business is a challenge, but that is doubly true in an industry that is changing as rapidly as the media industry. “I think the biggest challenge is staying relevant and being able to change with the times,” Johnson notes. “We’re always looking at how best to reach readers. We have the website now, but we also have an online app. A huge percentage of our readers read the newspaper on their phones every day.”
The newspaper’s coverage extends far beyond the boundaries of Easton. The main newspaper provides coverage to Caroline and Dorchester counties, as well as Talbot, and APG Chesapeake owns weekly newspapers in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties.
While Johnson believes the paper still covers the most important topics, he admits it’s harder and harder to cover breaking news. The paper simply doesn’t have the resources to respond the way it once did, and the technology for tracking breaking news has changed too.
“It becomes more and more difficult,” Johnson confesses. “In the past, hanging just outside of this office, was a police scanner. Now the police departments have gone to digital transmissions that don’t get picked up by scanners.”
The number of reporters is much smaller too. “I wouldn’t say we’re covering less,” Johnson explains. “We’re covering different things now than we did before. We have a real emphasis on making sure we’re at the big meetings — the town councils, the county council, the school board, and also for all the communities we cover.”
To incorporate more local voices, The Star Democrat’s editorial page is now only published on Saturdays. Johnson himself writes regular editorials and the section incorporates more letters from readers. “We just didn’t have a lot of local content coming in,” Johnson notes. “By dropping back, we really try to focus on local events and issues.”
Still, what truly sets The Star Democrat apart, Johnson says, is its commitment to journalistic integrity. The concept of a “free press” carries with it a heavy responsibility to be fair, balanced, and unbiased in reporting the news.
“We try to approach each story objectively, covering both sides or multiple sides of the story, and not putting opinion into our news stories,” Johnson explains. “It’s important to present an unbiased view of news in the community so people can read and make the decisions on what they think about an issue. Our focus is on covering the community and doing it in it as objective a way as possible.”
Talented young reporters often move on quickly, but that’s typical in this business, Johnson explains. Smaller newspapers often act as training grounds for larger publications. That makes The Star Democrat’s role especially important as one considers the future of the industry.
“We still get people coming out of college who come and work for us,” Johnson says. “Why? Because there’s a feeling that it is community service. It’s more than just a job. It’s almost a calling. Some people feel really strongly about being able to tell readers what’s happening in their community.”
Cub reporters who has cut their teeth at a smaller paper like The Star Democrat also can take the skills they learn here and apply them at many other jobs.
“If you’re able to write, and write quickly, and you’re able to take complex subjects and write them in a language that anybody can understand, that’s a real skill” Johnson says, “and it’s a skill that transcends journalism and can be used in many different careers.”
As Johnson looks to the future, he sees both challenges and opportunities ahead. Artificial intelligence is sure to make an impact, and his staff is working to get a handle on this new technology. The cost of printing a paper product may someday become prohibitive, given the cost of both new printing presses and the paper itself.
But for now, people still want print, and the staff at The Star Democrat is committed to providing it.
“So many communities have lost what we still have here, and I personally think it’s important,” Johnson says. “I don’t want to see this newspaper go away. I’m not just an employee of The Star Democrat. I’m a steward of a free press. My job is to help ensure that we’re here for another 225 years.”
The Star Democrat’s 225th Anniversary Special Section is available on newsstands now. For more information about the newspaper, call 410-822-1500 or log on at stardem.com.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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