what could one think about this finding from economists featured in the podcast "Starving the Watchdog: Who Foots the Bill When Newspapers Disappear?": Newspaper closures have been linked to a decline in municipal finance, as towns and cities borrow money to build up police stations, senior centers, and bridges. Researchers found that when a newspaper closed, the cost of the loans in its county went up, which affected areas that were booming and areas that were shrinking. In the long run, after a newspaper closes, the borrowing cost of governments increases by about 0.1%. This is because something important disappears when newspapers close, such as the watchdog channel that journalists play in holding public officials and powerful corporations accountable