Local news impacts communities by providing a platform for public discourse and encouraging civic participation. It prioritizes stories that involve local figures, events and culture, which makes it more relatable to audiences than national news coverage. Local media also serves as a watchdog on government actions and decisions at the community level, holding officials accountable for their actions.
Despite these benefits, local journalism faces many challenges. Declining advertising revenue, competition from social platforms, and consolidation of broadcast station ownership can have a negative impact on local news coverage. This can lead to reduced staffing and fewer resources for deeper reporting.
As a result, local journalism often struggles to find a niche in today’s media landscape. However, a new generation of nonprofit newsrooms are working to rebuild journalism that serves the public interest. Their strategies include partnerships between larger and smaller newsrooms (such as ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network) that provide the resources necessary to tell complex, in-depth stories over an extended time frame. They also emphasize community engagement to better understand local issues and build trust in their reporting.
The success of these strategies will likely depend on increasing the audience for local news. This can be done by expanding digital channels, integrating community journalism, and building relationships with local audiences. In addition, increasing audience confidence in local news can help rebuild trust in the media overall.