Local news is the lifeblood of communities, providing a connection to residents that shapes their perception of the world around them. By covering events and fostering civic engagement, it can help build a sense of community identity and foster trust in journalism more broadly.
According to a recent Pew survey, most Americans think their local news is accurate, thorough, and fair. Yet, as national newscasts focus more on political and governmental stories, the wheels are off for what used to be called “community journalism”—or at least it seems that way.
While local news is the bread and butter for small daily and weekly papers, only 17 percent of survey respondents say they often get it from newspapers. And the number is even smaller for those who get it from non-daily newspapers or other sources, such as television and radio.
In addition, some cable channels dedicate a portion of their newscasts to local coverage. In the United States, this can include standalone local newscasts that run for a half hour or short segments that air during national network newscasts. In the case of networks such as ABC and CBS, these segments can be branded with different graphics than the station’s normal branding and studio designs.
Amid the demise of many commercial news organizations, a variety of nonprofits are stepping up to fill the gap. Some are partnering with larger newsrooms to share resources (as in ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network) while others are collaborating locally and nationally to create new kinds of storytelling. Among the most innovative are those that connect local issues with civic engagement, such as a series that linked Mansfield’s manufacturing history to its future by partnering with local stakeholders and reporting partners including Visiting Nurses Association, Richland Bank, PR Machine Works, and Mechanics Bank and won the “Best Solutions Journalism Project” award at the LION Publishers 2019 awards.