Editorials & Opinions |
America's Newspapers produces a variety of editorial and opinion pieces in support of local newspapers. These pieces are available to members of America's Newspapers at no cost for reprint. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Durham at [email protected].
Missing the Point: You Can’t Rebuild Local Journalism Without Local Newspapers
The data is in, and it’s hard to ignore.
According to the recently released Local Journalist Index, the number of local reporters serving American communities has declined by more than 75% since 2002. One in three counties now has fewer than one full-time local journalist. Hundreds of communities have no local reporter at all.
This is not just a media story. It’s a real problem for the communities without local news. When no one is covering school boards, city councils, public budgets, or community health decisions, the public is left uninformed—and unrepresented.
That’s why the latest announcement from Press Forward—the nation’s largest philanthropic funder of local news—was met with equal parts optimism and concern. Their new Infrastructure 2025 initiative will inject millions into local news, focusing on technology, training, and support for emerging digital and nonprofit models.
But notably missing from the list of priorities? Local newspapers. And that’s a serious oversight.
Despite being the most visible and established local news presence in most communities, newspapers are typically left out of major funding efforts. The focus, instead, is on digital startups, new platforms, and toolkits designed to support emerging models. The problem? You can’t rebuild local journalism at scale while sidelining the organizations still doing the work.
Trust isn’t the issue—local newspapers have it.
According to the 2024 Trust in Media Study conducted by America’s Newspapers and Coda Ventures, local newspapers are the most trusted news source in the country. Readers rank them highest for transparency, ethical standards, and connection to their communities—qualities that are critical in an environment saturated with misinformation and national polarization.
This kind of trust can’t be manufactured with a grant or a platform. It’s earned—and in the case of newspapers, it’s already built. That gives newspapers a unique advantage: they aren’t trying to break into communities. They’re already there.
Local newspapers also have infrastructure that works.
Unlike startups still searching for business models, newspapers have real systems in place: multichannel distribution, audience reach, brand equity, sales operations and varied revenue streams. Their capacity to deliver isn’t theoretical. It’s operational. And in many cases, it’s the only infrastructure left that can serve entire local markets—especially in mid-sized and rural areas.
That doesn’t mean the model is perfect. Newspapers have been under pressure for years. But they’ve also adapted—investing in digital platforms, building new revenue streams, testing partnerships, and exploring new ownership models.
Philanthropy doesn’t need to choose sides—but it does need to broaden its scope.
The future of local journalism depends on collaboration across models. Nonprofits, startups, collaborations, public media, and yes—local newspapers—all have a role to play. But excluding newspapers from the table guarantees a slower recovery, particularly in the communities with the greatest coverage gaps.
It’s not too late to correct the omission of philanthropy at local newspapers. Funding leaders, policymakers, and civic partners have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to think bigger. Strengthening local journalism at scale means recognizing where coverage already exists and where reinforcements can make the biggest difference. Local newspapers are not the whole answer. But they are a big part of it. Including them in the next wave of investment isn’t just strategic—it’s necessary.
According to the recently released Local Journalist Index, the number of local reporters serving American communities has declined by more than 75% since 2002. One in three counties now has fewer than one full-time local journalist. Hundreds of communities have no local reporter at all.
This is not just a media story. It’s a real problem for the communities without local news. When no one is covering school boards, city councils, public budgets, or community health decisions, the public is left uninformed—and unrepresented.
That’s why the latest announcement from Press Forward—the nation’s largest philanthropic funder of local news—was met with equal parts optimism and concern. Their new Infrastructure 2025 initiative will inject millions into local news, focusing on technology, training, and support for emerging digital and nonprofit models.
But notably missing from the list of priorities? Local newspapers. And that’s a serious oversight.
Despite being the most visible and established local news presence in most communities, newspapers are typically left out of major funding efforts. The focus, instead, is on digital startups, new platforms, and toolkits designed to support emerging models. The problem? You can’t rebuild local journalism at scale while sidelining the organizations still doing the work.
Trust isn’t the issue—local newspapers have it.
According to the 2024 Trust in Media Study conducted by America’s Newspapers and Coda Ventures, local newspapers are the most trusted news source in the country. Readers rank them highest for transparency, ethical standards, and connection to their communities—qualities that are critical in an environment saturated with misinformation and national polarization.
This kind of trust can’t be manufactured with a grant or a platform. It’s earned—and in the case of newspapers, it’s already built. That gives newspapers a unique advantage: they aren’t trying to break into communities. They’re already there.
Local newspapers also have infrastructure that works.
Unlike startups still searching for business models, newspapers have real systems in place: multichannel distribution, audience reach, brand equity, sales operations and varied revenue streams. Their capacity to deliver isn’t theoretical. It’s operational. And in many cases, it’s the only infrastructure left that can serve entire local markets—especially in mid-sized and rural areas.
That doesn’t mean the model is perfect. Newspapers have been under pressure for years. But they’ve also adapted—investing in digital platforms, building new revenue streams, testing partnerships, and exploring new ownership models.
Philanthropy doesn’t need to choose sides—but it does need to broaden its scope.
The future of local journalism depends on collaboration across models. Nonprofits, startups, collaborations, public media, and yes—local newspapers—all have a role to play. But excluding newspapers from the table guarantees a slower recovery, particularly in the communities with the greatest coverage gaps.
It’s not too late to correct the omission of philanthropy at local newspapers. Funding leaders, policymakers, and civic partners have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to think bigger. Strengthening local journalism at scale means recognizing where coverage already exists and where reinforcements can make the biggest difference. Local newspapers are not the whole answer. But they are a big part of it. Including them in the next wave of investment isn’t just strategic—it’s necessary.
State of Local News shows why newspapers remain backbone of news ecosystem
DEAN RIDINGS | AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS
Medill’s State of Local News 2025 report once again captures the changing shape of America’s local news landscape — and the expanding concern over news deserts. The report, which is often viewed as the annual report card on local news, is a comprehensive tracking of 8,000 local outlets across the country and documenting how more than 200 counties now have no local news source at all, while another 1,500 rely on just one, often a weekly newspaper. For millions of Americans, especially across rural regions and small towns, access to reliable local information continues to erode.
To many, the report signals more trouble for the newspaper industry. In reality, it shows why local newspapers are more essential — and irreplaceable — than ever. While there are challenges facing local newspapers, they remain the backbone of the local news ecosystem and the one institution that consistently reaches communities left behind by other forms of media.
According to the America’s Newspapers Trust in Media Study, 87 percent of Americans trust their local newspaper, and more than 80 percent consider it essential to their community.
The Medill report also highlights the rise of philanthropically funded and nonprofit digital startups — an important and growing part of the overall news ecosystem. These initiatives are making a difference and deserve recognition for the work they’re doing to support journalism.
But despite hundreds of millions of dollars being invested and pledged, the problem isn’t decreasing — it’s widening. Most of that funding is flowing to urban areas and targeted audiences, areas often served by existing publications, leaving the communities most in need — those in Middle America — still underserved.
That imbalance points to the real lesson in Medill’s data: the fastest and most effective way to rebuild local news is to strengthen the local newspapers that already exist. They are embedded in their communities, employ professional journalists, and operate with established infrastructure and trust that can’t be replicated overnight.
When local newspapers succeed, communities stay informed, connected and engaged. When they fail, news deserts grow — and the civic health of entire regions fades with them.
The Medill report measures what has been lost. The takeaway is about what comes next. Local newspapers aren’t the past of local news — they are its foundation, and the most practical path forward for rebuilding trusted information in every community that still values truth and connection.
The future of our communities depends on the strength of our local newspapers. They are the storytellers who celebrate our milestones, the watchdogs who hold power to account and the glue that keeps neighbors connected. When we invest in them — by subscribing, advertising or through philanthropic support — we’re investing in ourselves. A thriving local newspaper means a stronger, more informed and more united community.
The Medill report is a warning, but it’s also a call to action: if we want vibrant towns and cities that know themselves and care for one another, we must stand behind the newspapers that have always stood with us.
Medill’s State of Local News 2025 report once again captures the changing shape of America’s local news landscape — and the expanding concern over news deserts. The report, which is often viewed as the annual report card on local news, is a comprehensive tracking of 8,000 local outlets across the country and documenting how more than 200 counties now have no local news source at all, while another 1,500 rely on just one, often a weekly newspaper. For millions of Americans, especially across rural regions and small towns, access to reliable local information continues to erode.
To many, the report signals more trouble for the newspaper industry. In reality, it shows why local newspapers are more essential — and irreplaceable — than ever. While there are challenges facing local newspapers, they remain the backbone of the local news ecosystem and the one institution that consistently reaches communities left behind by other forms of media.
According to the America’s Newspapers Trust in Media Study, 87 percent of Americans trust their local newspaper, and more than 80 percent consider it essential to their community.
The Medill report also highlights the rise of philanthropically funded and nonprofit digital startups — an important and growing part of the overall news ecosystem. These initiatives are making a difference and deserve recognition for the work they’re doing to support journalism.
But despite hundreds of millions of dollars being invested and pledged, the problem isn’t decreasing — it’s widening. Most of that funding is flowing to urban areas and targeted audiences, areas often served by existing publications, leaving the communities most in need — those in Middle America — still underserved.
That imbalance points to the real lesson in Medill’s data: the fastest and most effective way to rebuild local news is to strengthen the local newspapers that already exist. They are embedded in their communities, employ professional journalists, and operate with established infrastructure and trust that can’t be replicated overnight.
When local newspapers succeed, communities stay informed, connected and engaged. When they fail, news deserts grow — and the civic health of entire regions fades with them.
The Medill report measures what has been lost. The takeaway is about what comes next. Local newspapers aren’t the past of local news — they are its foundation, and the most practical path forward for rebuilding trusted information in every community that still values truth and connection.
The future of our communities depends on the strength of our local newspapers. They are the storytellers who celebrate our milestones, the watchdogs who hold power to account and the glue that keeps neighbors connected. When we invest in them — by subscribing, advertising or through philanthropic support — we’re investing in ourselves. A thriving local newspaper means a stronger, more informed and more united community.
The Medill report is a warning, but it’s also a call to action: if we want vibrant towns and cities that know themselves and care for one another, we must stand behind the newspapers that have always stood with us.
Local newspapers keep communities strong
DEAN RIDINGS, CEO | AMERICA'S NEWSPAPERS
Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection — residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them open, and citizens having the facts to make good decisions. Local newspapers provide that connection in ways no other source can.
In today’s fractured media environment, trust is the rarest commodity. Confidence in “the media” is low. Only 18% of Americans say they trust news on social platforms, and fewer than one in four trust cable networks. But nearly two-thirds say they trust their local newspaper — more than double the confidence placed in most other outlets.
In an era when anyone can post anything online, that clarity makes newspapers stand apart.
Newspapers provide the facts that keep civic life running: city budgets, school board debates and local elections that rarely make national headlines but matter most to daily life. They also highlight the stories that make a community feel connected: high school sports, neighborhood events, new restaurants and profiles of people who make a difference.
Your local newspapers have evolved to meet readers where they are — on websites, mobile apps and email newsletters. What hasn’t changed are the standards. Accuracy, ethics and accountability still guide the work. That combination of modern delivery and traditional integrity is why people continue to turn to their local paper.
The same trust strengthens the local economy. Research shows consumers act on newspaper ads more than on ads delivered by TV, radio or digital platforms. People see local business advertising as part of the same reliable package as the news. For a small business competing with national chains and online platforms, no other channel delivers the same impact. When residents trust the paper, they trust the businesses that support it.
The absence of a local paper leaves a mark. Voter turnout declines. Fewer residents attend public meetings. Government oversight weakens and borrowing costs rise. Small businesses lose their most effective way to reach local customers. And without a trusted source tying things together, misinformation and partisan spin spread faster, fueling confusion and division.
The opposite is true when newspapers are strong. Residents are better informed, more engaged and more connected to each other. Businesses grow because they can reach customers in a trusted environment. Communities share a common set of facts that helps debate happen on the issues — not on whether the information is real.
But this role depends on support. Subscriptions, advertising and community engagement make it possible for newspapers to continue earning the trust that communities depend on. A strong local newspaper doesn’t solve every challenge a town faces, but it makes civic life, local culture and the local economy all work better. Healthy communities are stronger when their local newspaper is strong. Supporting the paper is one of the most direct ways residents and businesses can invest in their own future.
Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection — residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them open, and citizens having the facts to make good decisions. Local newspapers provide that connection in ways no other source can.
In today’s fractured media environment, trust is the rarest commodity. Confidence in “the media” is low. Only 18% of Americans say they trust news on social platforms, and fewer than one in four trust cable networks. But nearly two-thirds say they trust their local newspaper — more than double the confidence placed in most other outlets.
In an era when anyone can post anything online, that clarity makes newspapers stand apart.
Newspapers provide the facts that keep civic life running: city budgets, school board debates and local elections that rarely make national headlines but matter most to daily life. They also highlight the stories that make a community feel connected: high school sports, neighborhood events, new restaurants and profiles of people who make a difference.
Your local newspapers have evolved to meet readers where they are — on websites, mobile apps and email newsletters. What hasn’t changed are the standards. Accuracy, ethics and accountability still guide the work. That combination of modern delivery and traditional integrity is why people continue to turn to their local paper.
The same trust strengthens the local economy. Research shows consumers act on newspaper ads more than on ads delivered by TV, radio or digital platforms. People see local business advertising as part of the same reliable package as the news. For a small business competing with national chains and online platforms, no other channel delivers the same impact. When residents trust the paper, they trust the businesses that support it.
The absence of a local paper leaves a mark. Voter turnout declines. Fewer residents attend public meetings. Government oversight weakens and borrowing costs rise. Small businesses lose their most effective way to reach local customers. And without a trusted source tying things together, misinformation and partisan spin spread faster, fueling confusion and division.
The opposite is true when newspapers are strong. Residents are better informed, more engaged and more connected to each other. Businesses grow because they can reach customers in a trusted environment. Communities share a common set of facts that helps debate happen on the issues — not on whether the information is real.
But this role depends on support. Subscriptions, advertising and community engagement make it possible for newspapers to continue earning the trust that communities depend on. A strong local newspaper doesn’t solve every challenge a town faces, but it makes civic life, local culture and the local economy all work better. Healthy communities are stronger when their local newspaper is strong. Supporting the paper is one of the most direct ways residents and businesses can invest in their own future.