Local news refers to the full collection of media outlets – from newspapers, radio and TV stations to hyperlocal websites and apps – that tell the stories of a specific community. This type of journalism is critical to addressing the information needs of citizens and providing them with a forum to engage with the community.
Local media are uniquely positioned to inform and empower communities, serving as watchdogs of government decisions and actions at the local level, as well as connecting citizens with their elected officials. These efforts help build trust in the news, and contribute to greater civic engagement and participation.
The majority of Americans say they follow news on a variety of local topics, including daily information like weather and traffic, as well as civic information about local crime, the economy and government, and cultural news about sports and arts. Adults who describe themselves as very attached to their community are more likely than others to say they often get news about all of these subjects, and those who have children under the age of 18 are nearly twice as likely as those without young children to often follow local school news (32% vs. 24%, respectively).
The challenges facing local news include declining advertising revenues and competition from social media platforms that can dilute audience sizes and impact the depth of coverage. But when quality, professional and representative journalism is delivered with the support of a sustainable model, it can provide an avenue for citizen engagement that helps strengthen the integrity of public affairs and fosters trust in the news.