Local news refers to the reporting of events and issues that directly impact a specific community or geographic area. It plays a crucial role in informing citizens, fostering community engagement and encouraging civic participation. It can also help hold local politicians and other public officials accountable for their actions. Local news, however, is increasingly facing financial challenges due to declining advertising revenues and competition from social media. These challenges can lead to diminished coverage of critical local issues.
Research shows that a robust local news ecosystem is critical to a healthy democracy. It increases voter turnout, reduces political polarization and improves government accountability. Local news is vital to a well-functioning economy and can encourage entrepreneurship and innovation by providing information on local opportunities and needs.
Whether it’s weather, traffic, crime, education or economics, most Americans say they follow local news at least some of the time. In fact, most report that they trust their local news sources more than any others—more than 76% of Americans say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in their local television news, and 55% do for their local newspapers.
Local journalism is the backbone of our democracy, but it’s facing significant financial strain. In these challenging times, nonprofit news organizations need your support more than ever to keep the lights on and continue to deliver the local information you depend on. We’re raising philanthropic capital as one pillar of a movement to advance financially sustainable, mission-based local news.