Local journalism can’t be rebuilt sans local newspapers
The data is in, and it’s hard to ignore. According to the recently released Local Journalist Index, the number of local reporters serving American communities has declined by more than 75% since 2002. One in three counties now has fewer than one full-time local journalist. Hundreds of communities have no local reporter at all.
This is not just a media story. It’s a real problem for the communities without local news. When no one is covering school boards, city councils, public budgets or community health decisions, the public is left uninformed — and unrepresented.
That’s why the latest announcement from Press Forward — the nation’s largest philanthropic funder of local news — was met with equal parts optimism and concern. Their new Infrastructure 2025 initiative will inject millions into local news, focusing on technology, training and support for emerging digital and nonprofit models. But notably missing from the list of priorities? Local newspapers. And that’s a serious oversight.
Despite being the most visible and established local news presence in most communities, newspapers are typically left out of major funding efforts. The focus, instead, is on digital startups, new platforms and toolkits designed to support emerging models. The problem? You can’t rebuild local journalism at scale while sidelining the organizations still doing the work.
Trust isn’t the issue — local newspapers have it.
According to the 2024 Trust in Media Study conducted by America’s Newspapers and Coda Ventures, local newspapers are the most trusted news source in the country. Readers rank them highest for transparency, ethical standards and connection to their communities — qualities that are critical in an environment saturated with misinformation and national polarization.
This kind of trust can’t be manufactured with a grant or a platform. It’s earned — and in the case of newspapers, it’s already built. That gives newspapers a unique advantage: They aren’t trying to break into communities. They’re already there.
Local newspapers also have infrastructure that works.
Unlike startups still searching for business models, newspapers have real systems in place: multichannel distribution, audience reach, brand equity, sales operations and varied revenue streams. Their capacity to deliver isn’t theoretical. It’s operational. And in many cases, it’s the only infrastructure left that can serve entire local markets — especially in mid-sized and rural areas.
That doesn’t mean the model is perfect. Newspapers have been under pressure for years. But they’ve also adapted — investing in digital platforms, building new revenue streams, testing partnerships and exploring new ownership models.
Philanthropy doesn’t need to choose sides, but it does need to broaden its scope.
The future of local journalism depends on collaboration across models. Nonprofits, startups, collaborations, public media, and yes — local newspapers — all have a role to play. But excluding newspapers from the table guarantees a slower recovery, particularly in the communities with the greatest coverage gaps.
It’s not too late to correct the omission of philanthropy at local newspapers. Funding leaders, policymakers and civic partners have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to think bigger.
Strengthening local journalism at scale means recognizing where coverage already exists and where reinforcements can make the biggest difference. Local newspapers are not the whole answer. But they are a big part of it. Including them in the next wave of investment isn’t just strategic — it’s necessary.
America’s Newspapers is a national trade association representing more than 1,600 newspapers of all sizes across the United States. The association works to protect the future of local newspapers through advocacy, industry research, leadership development and initiatives that strengthen newspapers’ essential role in their communities.
