Illustration by Sylvia Asuncion-Crabb The local news industry has been in turmoil for years. You’re probably aware that the number of local newspapers in the U.S. is shrinking, from 8,891 in 2005 to 5,591 in 2024, with 208 U.S. counties lacking any news outlets . You or someone you know has likely been among the 9,508 local and national news professionals laid off since 2021 . Fighting disinformation and trying to earn back the trust of your community is your day-to-day reality. Despite the challenges, there are success stories across the media landscape. There are newspapers that have more than doubled their number of digital subscribers in two years. There are broadcast TV stations that have revamped their coverage plans, including developing audience-focused mission statements to guide their work, resulting in new coverage topics and newsletter subscribers. And there are organizations that have owned up to the harm they’ve caused their communities and begun the process of reconciliation and rebuilding trust, listening to audiences of color and creating journalism for them, growing their audiences and creating new products to serve these communities. These accomplishments didn’t come quickly or easily. News organizations overhauled their workflows and learned new skills. They […]
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