I wouldn't be surprised to see small newspapers that are still charging for print copies to go away completely within the next five to ten years.
Revenue for newspapers has been steadily decreasing for print editions, except for free hardcopy papers and online editions. Since many businesses know that more people are most likely going to read a free newspaper rather than one that costs $.50, they will purchase advertising with them since there is more readership. Advertisers are more likely to advertise with a paper with a circulation of 15,000 (which is free) than one with only a few thousand (subscription-based or non-free newspapers).
Free newspapers have taken advantage of this and charge less for advertising to entice more business, hence why the free newspaper is so much more successful in getting a significant amount of advertising which pays to print the paper and their employees.
The only difference in this local matter is the content being printed since each newspaper has a different style of getting and relaying the news as well as editing techniques. In the Lakes Region there is one free daily paper and several free weekly papers.
Some people may fear the loss of a newspaper in a community, however, largest companies such as AOL are slowly expanding into communities to gather news and put it online for free of charge (check out
www.Patch.com). This type of reporting is being referred to as "hyperlocal" journalism and, in my opinion, will be the way of the future - although free periodicals will still be around because they are free.