Local news faces crisis as traditional newspapers close at alarming rate

In a year marked by significant upheaval in the local news landscape across the United States, 2023 witnessed the closure of newspapers at an alarming rate, while digital news platforms showed signs of tentative growth. Research conducted by the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University highlighted that 127 newspapers ceased operations over the year. This rate equated to more than two closures per week, a trend that illustrates the continuing challenges faced by traditional local news media.

Amidst this climate of contraction, digital news entrepreneurs have made notable strides, contributing to some degree of growth in the sector. The Medill report documented the emergence of 212 new digital news sites throughout the year. Despite this flurry of activity, the net gain of operational digital outlets stood at 81, marking the highest annual increase since the initiative began tracking these figures in 2018. However, this growth is tempered by the volatility seen within the sector, as both new ventures and closures keep the net numbers relatively modest.

Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative, acknowledged this nascent revival as a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit, stating, “It shows that there are some entrepreneurs and innovators out there.” Yet, the broader scenario for local news remains bleak, with underlying issues persisting. Since 2005, over 3,200 newspapers have closed across the nation, leaving around 5,600 remaining. Additionally, nearly 2,000 newsroom jobs were lost in the preceding year.

The impact of these closures is palpable in communities. For instance, the Hinton Times in Iowa shuttered after 28 years due to its owners’ retirement, and the Northland Press in Minnesota ceased operations following the publisher’s death. The Tioga Tribune in North Dakota was another casualty, closing as its editor relocated.

New digital platforms are predominantly emerging in metropolitan areas, stepping in where established outlets have reduced coverage. Chicago, for example, has seen developments such as Block Club Chicago, which provides hyper-local news across nearly two dozen neighbourhoods. The TRiiBE, which targets young, Black professionals, and Cicero Independiente, catering to Latino communities, reflect efforts to fill the coverage vacuum left by traditional outlets.

Despite these urban-centred gains, rural regions continue to experience significant shortfalls in news coverage. Medill’s analysis identified 279 counties at high risk of losing local news access entirely, an increase of 22 percent from the previous year. This risk assessment based on factors like poverty and existing media presence underscores the precarious situation for rural news delivery.

Ownership dynamics within the newspaper industry are also shifting, with a marked increase in changeovers. In 2023, 258 newspapers altered ownership, a notable rise from 180 the previous year. Smaller media companies, such as Carpenter Media Group in Farmville, Virginia, are increasingly acquiring local newspapers, diverging from larger conglomerates like Gannett.

Furthermore, many new digital news initiatives have adopted nonprofit business models. As Zach Metzger, director of the Medill State of Local News Project, pointed out, this model circumvents the costs associated with print media and opens up more diversified funding opportunities.

Overall, while digital platforms offer glimpses of hope, the challenges persist for local news, demanding attention to sustain vital news services across both urban and rural landscapes.

Source: Noah Wire Services