In recent years, local journalism has faced a host of challenges. Advertising revenue has plummeted, and thousands of newspapers have folded or reduced their editorial staffs to save money. As a result, the quality and quantity of local news has declined.
Despite these financial difficulties, most Americans continue to say they find local news important. They also report that they want local media to be free of national partisan bias and more involved in advocacy for their community. However, the steady decline in local news means that civic engagement can become harder for many people who face time and energy constraints.
In the past decade, large investment entities have bought hundreds of local newspapers at rock-bottom prices. They have then implemented a standard formula for managing them — aggressive cost cutting and financial restructuring, including bankruptcy — that erodes their quality and reach in both the print and digital realms.
While the economic challenges have taken a toll on all aspects of local journalism, they have been particularly damaging for locally owned print and radio media. As they’ve been swallowed by large corporate media conglomerates, local outlets have lost the variety of opinion and perspective that drew in readers and listeners.
In many communities, residents can still get their local news through print or TV, but increasingly they are turning to online sources for this information. For example, about half of adults say they sometimes get their local news from online forums, such as Facebook groups or Nextdoor, where they can share and discuss their views on community issues with others.
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