Local news includes a range of topics, from useful daily information like weather and traffic to civic news about city governments, crime and the economy, to cultural news about arts and sports. Majorities of Americans say they often get news about each of these topics, and people who feel very attached to their communities are more likely than others to follow all of them.
Local media provide a critical connection between residents and their government, fostering a sense of community identity while addressing community concerns. In addition, they foster civic engagement and participation by informing citizens about government decisions and local events and services. These media outlets also play a significant role in shaping public perception of community issues through their choice of stories and framing techniques.
A variety of strategies can support local journalism, including partnering with larger organizations to tell in-depth stories and building collaborative reporting teams. These are just a few of the ways that nonprofit newsrooms and their partners are working to ensure that local news is available and trustworthy.
In 2022, local TV newsrooms dedicated an average of 6.6 hours per weekday to news programming. This was unchanged from 2021.
This year, Medill has expanded its research on the state of local news to include a predictive model that identifies counties at risk of becoming “news deserts.” This tool gives community leaders, philanthropists and other stakeholders a better opportunity to act before a local news void develops.
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