Local news focuses on events and issues that are relevant to specific communities, often with community participation in the storytelling process. Local newspapers, TV stations, and radio outlets are the primary sources of local news. They also play a critical role in shaping public perception of local issues and driving citizen engagement.
Despite their importance, many local news outlets are struggling to remain profitable in today’s media environment. Declining advertising revenues combined with competition from social media and other online news sources put pressure on these organizations to reduce staff and limit content focus. This can lead to diminished coverage of important local stories and an increase in misinformation.
The rapid growth of digital technology has led to profound changes in how news is distributed and consumed. This is especially true for local news, which is often more immediate and less likely to be vetted before it’s spread. Increasingly, smaller and independent local news organizations are being bought out by larger media companies or closing altogether. This leaves communities with fewer options for trusted, reliable local news.
The number of news desert counties – areas that lack consistent local news sources – has continued to grow. As a result, millions of Americans have limited or no access to local news. To address this, philanthropy and other organizations are creating new models for supporting local journalism. One example is the Boyle Heights Beat, a student newspaper in Los Angeles that trains high school students to report on their community’s own stories, avoiding the “murders and festivals” syndrome.
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