A healthy local news ecosystem is essential to a vibrant democracy, equipping voters with the information they need to engage civicly, vote and run for office, hold government officials accountable and build buy-in to community initiatives. Yet the loss of local newsrooms over the last two decades has taken a toll on communities, contributing to political polarization and a decrease in voting rates.
Despite the decline of newspaper readership and advertising revenue, a growing number of for-profit and nonprofit ventures are developing viable business models that address these challenges and serve local communities. However, the pace at which new local journalism ventures are establishing themselves isn’t enough to replace the many thousands of local newsrooms that have closed.
Americans continue to view their local media highly in terms of its ability to keep them informed, act as a watchdog and amplify positive stories. But they are turning to local news less frequently than in the past, opting instead for social media, personal networks and other sources of information.
The share of Americans who say they follow local news very closely has dropped, mirroring a decline in interest in national news. However, most people who get their local news from TV still say they are very or extremely satisfied with the coverage they receive.
The Pulitzer Prizes for Breaking News, Investigative Reporting and Audio Reporting this year recognized digital startups Lookout Santa Cruz (for its “detailed and nimble” reporting of floods and mudslides) and City Bureau in collaboration with the Invisible Institute (for its two-year investigation of missing Black girls and women in Chicago). In addition, independent podcast Honolulu Civil Beat, which covers issues related to climate change, won a podcasting Pulitzer this year.