Local news refers to a collection of journalism outlets—newspapers, radio stations and TV—that serve a specific geographically defined community. It includes hyperlocal online sites as well as traditional newspapers, radio and television news broadcasts. Local media informs communities about events, issues and stories that directly affect them, creating a platform for civic engagement and discourse.
It is also a key component of a healthy democracy, as it provides voters with the information they need to make informed decisions and participate in their communities. It reduces political polarization, encourages civic participation in elections and government oversight, and helps citizens hold public officials accountable.
But local journalism faces serious challenges. The financial strain of declining advertising revenues and competition from social media has led to staff cuts, and reduced capacity for comprehensive coverage of local issues. A growing number of organizations are addressing these challenges by embracing new models for financial sustainability and reaching audiences with strategies that integrate digital platforms.
These new models for sustainability include collaborating with other news organizations and the public to produce local content, developing innovative business models, and investing in investigative reporting that impacts local communities. These efforts are building a network of local news that is more diverse and representative, and that can serve as a counter to the widespread distrust of national and global media. They are also creating local news channels that address the 1,800-plus “news deserts” where people have no access to any locally produced news.