Lack of Local News Coverage Linked to Civic Decline and Increased Government Costs
A guest column by Benjy Hamm, director of the national Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Journalism and Media, highlights the critical role of local news in American communities. Hamm notes that despite significant changes in media since 1776, over 5,000 newspapers continue to inform their communities about local leadership and its impact. He emphasizes that local newspaper reporters are often the sole journalists covering school boards, city councils, and youth sports. The 2025 State of Local News report by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism indicates that more than 1,500 U.S. counties are served by only one news media outlet, predominantly a local newspaper. Hamm points out that while many Americans receive news via their phones, the original source of much of this information can be traced back to journalists. The changing business models for news organizations have led to an increase in 'news deser...
