Let’s Talk About the Obvious
Look, I’ve been around the block. 23 years, 7 publications, 3,482 deadlines. I’ve seen it all. And honestly? Local news is in trouble. Like, real trouble. Not the kinda trouble where you can just pivot or innovate your way out. No, this is the kinda trouble where you look at the numbers and think, “Well, shit.”
I remember sitting with Marcus—let’s call him that, ’cause his real name doesn’t matter here—over coffee at that place on 5th. You know the one, with the kinda terrible pastries but the decent espresso. He ran the Burlington Gazette for 15 years. “We’re down to 12 reporters,” he told me. “Twelve. For a city of 87,000.” I asked him how he slept at night. He laughed. “Like shit,” he said. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s just… yeah. It’s mostly doom. But there’s some kinda hope in there too. Maybe.
Why Should You Care?
You might be thinking, “Who cares about local news? I get all my news from Twitter and Facebook anyway.” First off, stop that. Second, let me tell you why you should care. Local news is the kinda stuff that affects your life directly. Your school board’s budget? Local news. That pothole that’s gonna destroy your car’s suspension? Local news. The new zoning laws that’ll turn your neighborhood into a parking lot? You guessed it. Local news.
And it’s not just about you. It’s about democracy. Yeah, yeah, I know that sounds like a cliché. But hear me out. Local news holds your local officials accountable. Without it, who’s gonna catch the mayor embezzling funds? Who’s gonna report on the school superintendent’s shady real estate deals? Not your Facebook feed, that’s for sure.
The Numbers Don’t Lie (Unfortunately)
Let’s talk numbers. Because numbers are boring but necessary. About three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. There was this guy, Dave, from the election news coverage latest team. He showed me some stats. In 2008, there were about 1,400 daily newspapers in the U.S. In 2023? 660. That’s a lotta newspapers gone. And it’s not just newspapers. It’s local TV, radio, hell, even the local bloggers are struggling.
And get this: a study from the University of North Carolina found that since 2004, the U.S. has lost over 2,000 newspapers. That’s 25% of all newspapers in the country. And the ones that are left? They’re running on fumes. Literally. I mean, I was at a newsroom in Ohio last Tuesday, and they were so short-staffed that the sports reporter was also doing obituaries. I kid you not.
But Wait, There’s More
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but what can I do about it?” Honestly? Not much. But you can start by supporting local news. Subscribe to your local paper. Even if it’s just the digital version. Share their stories on social media. Tell your friends to do the same. It’s not gonna fix everything, but it’s a start.
And if you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even start your own local news outlet. I mean, it’s not easy. It’s really not easy. But it’s possible. There are success stories out there. Like the Tulsa Voice, which started as a tiny blog and now has a legit newsroom. Or the Berkeley Beacon, which was started by a group of college students and now covers local news like a pro.
A Quick Tangent: The Internet is Both the Problem and the Solution
Look, I love the internet. I really do. It’s given us access to more information than ever before. But it’s also made it harder for local news to survive. Because now, anyone can be a “journalist.” And that’s great, in theory. But in practice, it means that misinformation spreads like wildfire. And it means that local news outlets have to compete with clickbait and conspiracy theories. It’s a mess.
But the internet can also be a lifeline for local news. It’s a way to reach more people, to engage with your audience directly. It’s a way to innovate, to try new things. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a tool. And tools can be used for good.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Local news is in trouble. There’s no denying it. But it’s not dead. Not yet. And it’s not too late to save it. It’s gonna take a lotta work, though. It’s gonna take commitment from the public, from the industry, from everyone. But it’s possible.
I mean, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you it’s gonna be easy. It’s not. It’s gonna be hard. It’s gonna be frustrating. It’s gonna be a lotta things. But it’s worth it. Because local news matters. It matters to you, to your community, to democracy. So let’s not give up on it just yet.
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over 20 years, working for various publications across the country. She’s seen the industry evolve, devolve, and somehow evolve again. She’s passionate about local news and believes in its power to inform and engage communities. When she’s not editing, she’s probably complaining about the state of journalism or binge-watching true crime documentaries.
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