Kathrine Nero
Growing up, our family ate dinner to the soundtrack of the local news. I chose my seat at the dining room table specifically because I could see the television if I looked just the right way over my sister’s shoulder. I was enamored with news and newscasters, to the point where I made it my career.
When I wanted to be editor of my school paper in the seventh grade, I wrote to a local newspaper columnist whom I loved to read (yes, I was that kid), asking for a letter of recommendation. And yes, she sent it.
That sort of appointment television and habitual reading doesn’t exist in the same way anymore. Now, streaming platforms, internal DVRs, 24-hour news channels, digital outlets and social media give us news when we want it, how we want it, and where we want it.
It seems we get more news than ever. But the number of journalists providing that news is at issue. According to a survey by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and Syracuse University, local TV news staffing is actually on the rise, but it’s also important to note many stations are adding more shows, and sometimes the number of additional personnel can’t keep up with the non-stop onslaught of news. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of newsroom employees across the board will decline by 3% from 2023 to 2033.
The bottom line: newsrooms are faced with staffing shortages. Newspapers are closing. Television stations are consolidating. News radio is being farmed out to other cities. It’s a full-out erosion of local journalism.
Why does that matter?
Journalism was created as a fourth arm of the checks and balances that exist in our executive, legislative and judicial branches: the Fourth Estate. Without said checks, who holds the government accountable? And maybe just as importantly, without local journalists, where can we learn more about the city, county and state races that matter to us?
The Rise of Information Deserts
You’ve likely heard of food deserts, where communities lack access to fresh food. Many areas around the country are becoming information deserts, lacking access to local news, and the consequences are far-reaching. A University of North Carolina study shows more than 2,500 newspapers in the US have closed since 2004. The communities they leave behind are, in many cases, without access to reliable news. An uninformed electorate can impact everything from voter engagement to government accountability and could, in time, weaken the foundations of democracy.
Local journalism has been a panacea for these ills: it has existed to inform and educate, as well as entertain. Where else are you going to see coverage of local city council or school board meetings? Without local government reporters, races for state representative or mayor may not be covered, sending voters searching for answers.
A lack of local news and the familiar names and faces that deliver it also provides the perfect environment for the spread of misinformation. Without a reputable news organization to fact-check what you might see online or hear from a neighbor, opinion or innuendo becomes “fact.”
And then there’s the simple act of awareness. Local journalists investigate what can many times be complicated constitutional measures, tax levies and the like. Without that expertise, disengagement among voters and ignorance of ballot issues can flourish.
Local news has its share of issues, but at its core, it is a community’s lifeblood. It can draw lines to connect issues and problems and help to find solutions. It can shine a spotlight on positive things happening in communities and encourage residents to see the good. It can help voters head to the ballot box educated and resolute in their decisions. Without ethical and robust local journalism, communities lose a crucial tool for staying informed, engaged and connected.
This country was founded by people who saw the benefit – and the necessity – of journalism. Though much has changed since they mentioned journalism by name in the Constitution, one thing remains the same: supporting local journalism is an investment in democracy itself, safeguarding the principles of transparency, accountability and civic participation that contribute to a healthy society.
Leave a Reply