Local news is delivered on a variety of platforms including television, mobile devices and streaming services. Its journalists live and work in the community they are covering and are impacted by the same things as viewers. According to a recent survey by Poynter Institute, 76% of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in local news. That’s more than they have for national papers and networks.
Local journalism is unique in that it can be hyper-focused on schools, neighborhoods, city and town government, and culture — often providing context that national news organizations cannot. By prioritizing issues that resonate with their audiences, local news outlets can help shape public perception and motivate citizens to take action.
Unlike broadcast TV stations, which operate within geographic boundaries defined by media market areas, local newspapers aren’t bound by these restrictions. They can publish in as many towns and cities within a market area as they wish, serving distinct audiences with different interests. Typically, local newspapers cover civic information like local government and crime, economic news such as job growth or business developments, and cultural news about the arts and sports.
But the rise of digital advertising has meant that local newspaper revenue is dwindling. In some cases, this has meant that the newsrooms that serve them are being reduced to half their size. This is particularly true of small and medium-sized markets where the newsrooms that remain are struggling to keep up with the demands of a shrinking audience.