Local news focuses on events, issues and activities that directly impact a specific community or geographic area. It’s a vital tool for informing citizens about their community, fostering a sense of community identity and addressing local concerns. It also helps to connect residents to their government by keeping them informed about local elections and policies. In addition, it encourages civic engagement by enabling residents to better understand how public decisions affect their lives and provides a platform for holding officials accountable.
In the United States, a large share of respondents report getting local news from small daily and weekly newspapers—and even more say they get it on the radio or television. And although many of these sources are shrinking, there is still room in the landscape for innovative strategies that can help local journalism thrive.
The local news industry faces a variety of challenges, including declining advertising revenues and competition from social media platforms. These pressures often result in staff cuts and decreased coverage of key local issues. In some communities, local news organizations have been completely eliminated, creating “news deserts.” This is having a significant impact on the quality of democracy in the United States.
In some cases, the need for local news is being filled by community groups and individuals. For example, in the rural town of Eudora, Kansas, when the only newspaper closed in 2019, a group of undergraduate journalism students stepped up to serve as reporters for the community’s only remaining paper, The Eudora Times. These young journalists have helped readers feel connected to their city, and their reporting has increased readership.
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