Now that major daily newspapers have folded in Denver and Seattle, debate is focusing on the value that newspapers bring to a community and the contributions they make to a vibrant democracy. More to the point, would anyone care if newspapers disappeared?

A new national poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press asked 1,001 adults to what degree civic life would be harmed if their local newspaper were to disappear and how much they would miss it. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) said the loss of newspapers would hurt civic life "a lot" (43 percent) or "somewhat" (31 percent) and the rest said "not much" (15 percent) or "not at all" (8 percent) with 3 percent holding no opinion.

The older the readers, the more weight they give to a newspaper's role in society. More than half of adults 65 and older (51 percent) said the loss of their local paper would hurt civic life "a lot" followed by 26 percent who thought it would hurt somewhat and 21 percent who said "not much" or "not at all." About 42 percent of those between 40 and 64 years of age said they would miss the paper a lot, 32 percent said somewhat and 24 percent not at all. The numbers are essentially the same for those between 18 and 39.

That's a pretty good indication that newspapers still provide a vital public function and a realization that without them our communities would be less informed.

However, the poll found that the numbers drop when respondents are asked whether they would miss their local newspaper. Nearly six in 10 (58 percent) said they would miss it "a lot" (33 percent) or somewhat (25 percent) but 16 percent said "not much" and 26 percent said "not at all." Again, those 65 and older are our biggest fans, with 55 percent saying they would miss us a lot, 19 percent somewhat and 26 not much or not at all.

The 40-to-64 crowd is less enthused. One-third said they would miss us a lot, 24 percent said somewhat and 43 percent said not much or not at all. The younger crowd (18 to 39) would miss their local newspaper the least (48 percent). Only 23 percent said they would miss newspapers a lot.

So while a majority of respondents understand the important role we play in society, far fewer would miss us if we were to go away.

The Advertiser has not done a similar poll, but last year's reader survey shows that about 49 percent of O'ahu adults read the paper every day and 58 percent read us on Sunday. Over a seven-day period, we reach 76 percent of the market.

As one who has spent all his adult life writing and editing at newspapers, I strongly believe that ours are essential institutions charged with keeping readers enlightened, governments in check and communities engaged. Were newspapers to evaporate, important information might never emerge with rumor, gossip and trivia filling the void.

That's a scenario that should frighten us all.

Mark Platte is senior vice president and editor of The Advertiser. Reach him at 525-8080.