Rice cakes and the 'essence of the business'

A recent article about the 'Night of Trees' bookstore in Suncheon has generated significant reader interest, prompting reflections on the impact of journalism. The bookstore's owner sent rice cakes to the Hankyoreh newspaper's text team, expressing gratitude for the story that drew visitors from across the country, including Seoul.

This positive reader response brought a sense of joy and purpose to the journalists, who regularly review new books, conduct interviews, and cover diverse topics. While reader emails are infrequent, hearing about the tangible influence of their content on people's lives provides a profound sense of reward and reaffirms the value of their work.

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I felt the power of the Hankyoreh newspaper.

However, this moment of satisfaction is juxtaposed with the harsh realities confronting legacy media. The article points to the recent court filings for corporate rehabilitation by the JoongAng Group, which owns major media outlets like JTBC and the JoongAng Ilbo, as a stark reminder of the industry's precarious state. These financial struggles, partly attributed to aggressive investments, underscore a sense of crisis.

In the face of such uncertainty and anxiety, the author stresses the need to return to the fundamental essence of the profession. The piece encourages a renewed focus on the questions posed to readers, the values being conveyed, and the core purpose of the '.txt' section. It serves as a call to reaffirm the mission of journalism by grounding its efforts in its essential nature.

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It was fascinating that people who read the article actually visited the bookstore, and I am grateful.