In early 2025, University of Oregon students partnered with the Sustainable City Year Program, the Agora Journalism Center, and the City of Oakridge to assess how residents access—and struggle to access—local news and civic information. The closure of the Dead Mountain Echo in 2020 and limited capacity of the Highway 58 Herald have left Oakridge relying heavily on Facebook, word of mouth, and bulletin boards. While residents expressed deep pride in their community, they voiced frustration over fragmented, biased, or outdated information. The project aimed to identify barriers, highlight what residents value, and propose community-centered solutions for a more reliable, inclusive information ecosystem.
Key Insights
- Heavy reliance on Facebook and word of mouth for news—Facebook is widely used but often distrusted, while word of mouth remains a valued, informal channel.
- Lack of a single trusted source for timely, accurate local information.
- Concerns about Highway 58 Herald’s perceived bias, inconsistent coverage, and past paywall model.
- Physical “third spaces”—cafés, grocery stores, libraries—remain vital but unevenly accessible.
- Most-requested coverage topics: community events, safety, housing and homelessness, local politics, education, and the environment.
- Barriers include cost, digital access gaps, and uncertainty over where to find trustworthy information.
Recommendations
- Media Literacy & Trust-Building: Partner with local organizations to host forums and trainings that help residents evaluate information sources and give feedback on coverage.
- Community Engagement: Establish regular “office hours” or listening sessions with local journalists and moderators to create a more transparent, collaborative news culture.
- Digital & Physical Distribution: Launch SMS alert systems and printed newsletters, and better utilize bulletin boards and signage to reach all residents.
- Civic Hub Collaboration: Build partnerships between civic spaces, nonprofits, and news outlets to share verified content and elevate community concerns across platforms.
- Economic Sustainability: Diversify funding for local journalism through philanthropy, institutional partnerships, and community contributions to sustain independent, public-interest reporting.
To read the full report and explore our detailed findings and recommendations, click the “Read The Report” link to the right.