I’m Tired of Hearing ‘Nobody Cares About Local News’
Look, I get it. You’re scrolling through your phone, and you see another story about the city council meeting. Your eyes glaze over. Who cares? Right? Wrong. I’ve been editing news for 22 years, and let me tell you, local news is the backbone of everything.
Last Tuesday, I was at a diner in Pittsburgh with an old friend, Marcus (not his real name). He’s a teacher, and he said to me, Why should I care about what’s happening in my city? It’s all just boring stuff.
I almost choked on my eggs. Marcus,
I said, if you don’t care about your city, who will?
Let’s Talk About That Time I Covered a Zoning Meeting
About three months ago, I was assigned to cover a zoning meeting. Thrilling. I thought. But then, I met Mrs. Thompson. She was this tiny, fierce woman who had been fighting to keep a park from being turned into a parking lot. She told me, This park is all these kids have. If it’s gone, where will they play?
That story ran on page 6. But you know what? It mattered. The city council got so many calls they had to postpone the vote. That’s the power of local news. It’s not just about big scandals or breaking news. It’s about the stuff that affects your life directly.
But What About the Internet? Can’t I Just Google It?
Oh, here we go. The internet. Sure, you can Google it. But who’s gonna tell you about the hobi fikirleri yetişkinler başlangıç meeting down the street? Or the new traffic light they’re putting in? Or the fact that your local school is underfunded?
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and a colleague named Dave said to me, Local news is dying because people don’t see the value.
I told him, That’s because we’re not showing them the value. We’re too busy chasing clicks and trying to be like the big national outlets.
A Quick Digression: Why I Hate the Word ‘Engagement’
Honestly, I can’t stand that word. Engagement. It’s like we’re all just trying to get people to like us or share us or comment on us. News isn’t about engagement. It’s about information. It’s about telling people what they need to know to live their lives.
But, I digress. The point is, local news matters. It’s not glamorous. It’s not always exciting. But it’s important. And if we don’t support it, who will?
I’m not saying you should start reading every word of your local paper. But maybe, just maybe, give it a chance. You might be surprised at what you find.
What Can You Do?
First, stop complaining about the news. If you don’t like what’s being reported, tell your local outlet. They want to know what you care about. Second, support them. Subscribe if you can. Share their stories on social media. Tell your friends about them.
And finally, remember that news is a two-way street. You get out of it what you put into it. So, put something into it. Talk to your neighbors. Attend a city council meeting. Write a letter to the editor. Be part of the conversation.
Because, honestly, if we don’t, who will?
About the Author: Jane Doe has been a senior editor for over 22 years. She’s worked at various publications, from small town papers to national magazines. She’s passionate about local news and believes it’s the backbone of a functioning democracy. When she’s not editing, she can be found reading, hiking, or arguing with people on the internet.
