Amid a secular shift to digital by readers and advertisers, local newsrooms have been decimated. Hundreds of weekly newspapers have shuttered, leaving behind “news deserts” where no one publishes. In other towns and communities, however, promising new business models have emerged to keep local news alive.
While most people still rely on their local newspapers and TV news to stay informed about what’s happening in their community, these outlets are often under financial siege. But the financial crisis may have a silver lining: it’s forcing local news organizations to focus on what matters most, and set themselves apart with established excellence in specific topics.
When it comes to views about local journalism, most Americans are generally positive. In 2022, majorities of Democrats and Democratic leaners and Republicans say their local news organizations do a good job of keeping them informed about important local issues, reporting the news accurately and serving as watchdogs on their elected leaders. These positive views about local news are not as politically polarized as people’s opinions about the national news media.
Most people get their local news from their television networks’ local affiliates. These stations produce separate newscasts that air for about a half hour or short segments that are attached to national network newscasts. These broadcasts usually feature the graphics, branding and studio design of their respective TV networks but are otherwise independent. In many cases, these local affiliates are owned by the same parent company as the national TV networks they’re affiliated with. This is the case in central Pennsylvania, where Sinclair Broadcast Group operates three of four local TV stations – in the Penn State markets in University Park, Dubois and Altoona.