Local news plays a crucial role in connecting communities, promoting transparency and accountability, providing essential information and supporting local businesses. Yet, over the past decade, it has been one of the hardest-hit areas in journalism. Advertising revenue cratered, private equity gutted newsrooms and, in many places, thousands of local newspapers closed or cut their editorial staff significantly. And it’s not just print that has been suffering: local television stations are in decline too. Many have been bought out by media conglomerates like Sinclair, who slash costs and force local anchors to read scripted national news packages.
The State of Local News
The good news is that Americans still give their local media high marks. More than two-thirds say that the local news they get in their community does a very or somewhat good job at fulfilling civic duties like amplifying positive stories, helping solve problems and holding local leaders accountable for their actions.
Most people say that they often or sometimes get their local news from a newspaper or a news website, while smaller shares get it from social media and TV. But when it comes to local broadcast TV, Americans are divided. On the one hand, media consolidation has reduced the number of independent stations vying for advertising dollars. On the other, big media companies like Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group control many stations across the country.
As a result, they are able to promote their own agendas in ways that independents and other local outlets cannot. For example, a recent study of how local newspapers cover real estate development suggests that they enter a “growth coalition” with developers, property owners, financiers and the local business chamber — reinforcing and endorsing the accepted view that growth is desirable.