John Oliver Spotlights The Oregonian in Segment Warning Local Journalism Is Getting Slashed

The 19-minute segment chronicles the evolution of print media in the digital age. #ICYMI

By Beth Slovic

Sunday's episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" prominently featured the work of The Oregonian in a 19-minute segment on the demise of print media.

Oliver's HBO series demonstrated how it relied on former Oregonian reporter Harry Esteve and his 2013 series on the Oregon Lottery to produce its own segments about state-sponsored gambling and addiction.

"The media is a food chain which would fall apart without local newspapers," Oliver reminds his viewers.

Oliver then goes on to detail how the nationwide shift to digital operations has harmed local news-gathering. Oliver cites WW stories on how The Oregonian's owner, New York-based Advance Publications, axed reporters and created steep demands for web posts.

It's a familiar story. But Oliver ends it with a twist: a spoof trailer for a movie the show calls Stoplight that is well worth a watch.

Willamette Week

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.