Local news helps citizens understand their communities and stay informed. It also supports democratic participation and civic engagement by providing a vehicle for expressing political preferences and holding government accountable. In addition, local news can be an economic engine for small communities and a source of community pride. But as major media conglomerates buy up and close local papers or simply reprint national news with a little bit of locally reported data, the number of local news outlets has been declining rapidly. And some counties have become news deserts – such as Geneva County in Alabama and Chesterfield County in Virginia – leaving residents with fewer choices for getting their local information.
This report explores the state of local news in 2022 and looks at ways to address the challenges faced by the industry. It finds that most Americans continue to favor local news sources for a range of civic functions. They say that local news does better than social media, community-based apps or word of mouth in keeping them informed, amplifying positive stories and issues in their community and holding leaders in politics, business and other institutions accountable for their actions.
Among those who consume local news, television is the most popular source and local TV audiences remained relatively stable in 2022. And while some may view their local news providers as biased, most Americans say they do an excellent or very good job at reporting facts. This is consistent with research that suggests the majority of local news consumers are politically moderate.