Local news is a critical component of journalism that is specific to a geographic area and focused on the people and issues connected to that area. It can take the form of a for-profit newspaper, a nonprofit investigative journalism outlet, a media website or even social media.
By focusing on topics that resonate with residents, local news fosters community identity by reflecting their values, culture and concerns and encouraging civic engagement and participation. It informs citizens about government decisions and local events, and it serves as a watchdog for the functions of local government, ensuring that those in office are held accountable to the community they serve.
As the number of local newspapers in America has declined and many once-standalone iconic weeklies have merged with metro and regional papers, a new generation of nonprofit newsrooms is working to rebuild journalism that serves communities by putting the public interest first. They are using alternative reporting strategies such as solutions journalism and restorative narratives to attract attention and build buy-in. They are collaborating with other organizations, including universities, to expand the audience for their work and use innovative approaches to find and deliver stories.
While the loss of local news may seem alarming at a time when Americans report low levels of trust in the news media, research suggests that if we want to preserve democracy, we must restore local journalism and make it accessible to everyone. Read on to learn more about the state of local news in Oregon and across the country.
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