As local news markets dry up, independent journalists and grassroots publishers are stepping in.
Topic: Local News
Defining local news: Why a newsroom census matters
Regina Lawrence, the research director at the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon and a member of the LNIC steering committee, has published a Local News Ecosystem Toolkit to help researchers build a better baseline of data. An accurate census
Redefining News: A Manifesto for Community-Centered Journalism
This forward-thinking report makes the case for embracing a more inclusive, community-focused model of journalism, one that prioritizes listening to and collaborating with communities to produce relevant, equitable and impactful news and storytelling. The report features an actionable framework to put the principles of Community-Centered Journalism into practice and explains how this approach differs from traditional models of journalism, with potential benefits including rebuilding trust, tackling inequities, and fostering civic engagement.
Lessons from Southern Oregon’s local news collapse
The Medford paper’s demise is also yet another cautionary tale of what can happen when local newspapers fall into the hands of remote investors. It was sold repeatedly to out-of-state investors who whittled away until there was nothing left.