The state of local news is not simply a business challenge; it has an impact on people’s sense of community connection. A readily available supply of local news keeps residents informed about issues they care deeply about and helps them stay engaged in their communities. In addition, local news helps communities hold their leaders accountable by shining a light on problems like school board meetings and police misconduct.
But the void left by shrinking local newsrooms continues to grow, spreading across the country. At least 1,300 communities have lost their local newspapers and many others are served by media outlets whose newsrooms are half the size they once were. These local news deserts can leave residents without access to the critical information they need about their neighborhoods and towns, a watchdog that holds local politicians accountable and a forum for civic discussion.
A number of philanthropic organizations have responded to this growing crisis by stepping in with funding. Some are working to support a diverse array of locally led media organizations that can better meet the needs of their communities. The Lenfest Institute, for example, is collaborating with local philanthropists in Philadelphia to launch a new collaborative to build the journalism capacity of city-based community news organizations.
Other grantmakers are focused on the need for a diversity of voices in local media and on how the transformation of local news can be linked to broader efforts around democracy and civic engagement. These efforts are often fueled by the understanding that the health of a democracy depends on an informed public and that civic engagement works only when citizens have a good, reliable source of news about their community.