Local news refers to the full collection of communication outlets – newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV stations, among others – that report and broadcast local information in a specific community. The term also covers the professional journalism that focuses on those communities and informs their residents by providing them with quality coverage and giving them a voice in the public debate.
The local news landscape is changing rapidly: In the last decade alone, more than 1,300 communities have lost their local newspapers. Many of the remaining outlets have shrunk to less than half their size and are struggling financially. And the number of journalists working in local newsrooms is falling across America.
This is a time of opportunity, when local news can rebuild or build trust with its communities and give them the information they need to thrive. But to do that, they need new strategies and reliable revenue streams to support their work.
Americans’ views about local news remain positive despite the financial challenges facing the industry. Generally, Americans see local news doing well in a variety of areas — including keeping people informed about the important issues in their community, serving as a watchdog over elected officials, and encouraging civic engagement.
In addition, Americans who feel a strong sense of connection to their community are more likely than those who are less attached to rate local news as doing well in the most important areas. And those who turn most often to local broadcast news, newspapers and local news radio are the most satisfied with the performance of their local news outlets.