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The article presents a view on the transition of newspaper journalism to digital news and the heroes in this event. The heroes considered in this transition will be publishers, corporate officers, shareholders, reporters, editors and even economists and lawyers. Non-journalists and bloggers who enriched public conversation and expand the reach of professional journalism can also be considered as heroes. It is believed that newspaper journalism will not survive if public service and democracy are sacrificed in favor of corporate profits, or if journalism is replaced by entertainment news.

The article describes the courage shown by H. L. Mencken, a columnist for Sunpapers, in denouncing the lynchers of African American named Matthew Williams and demanding the arrest and trials of the perpetrators. Mencken perceived the cowardice of the press, particularly the Salisbury Times and the Cambridge Daily Banner, which he considered are examples of a degenerating process. People believed that Mencken's article was a disgrace to the state. Subscription to the newspaper were cancelled and there was also a threat of boycott. But Mencken and Sun publisher, Paul Patterson, stood by their belief despite people's animosity towards the paper.