How can we ensure the health and vitality of our communities? While there are many different ways to support what makes any society function, providing access to information is an essential element of democracy.
Without a steady and reliable flow of local news, most communities suffer, be it from rising taxes, diminished social services or corruption brought on by greed, desperation and the proverbial “more for me, less for you” attitude that spreads like wildfire when we forget we are all in this together. If “a rising tide lifts all boats,” then surely, we need to remind ourselves that taking on too much water could be the death knell for us all.
Much has been studied and written about the alarming decline of local news coverage, especially among legacy newspapers. According to a recent study by Northwestern University, in 2023 alone, an average of two-and-a-half newspapers closed each week compared to two per week in 2022. Many were the last remaining weeklies in their markets creating news deserts with no reliable source of information for the people living there.
Local television and radio stations, especially those situated in smaller markets, have made some noble efforts to pick up the slack, but the nature of broadcasting limits what one or two stations might be able to cover in often geographically complex regions. Television and radio stations are not immune from a challenging economy and the tendency to cut staff has made it