Losing the News: A New Publication from PEN America @PENAmerica

A new publication from PEN America: Losing the News: The Decimation of Local Journalism and the Search for Solutions.

From the introduction:

The decimation of local news in recent years—specifically the hollowing-out of newspapers and
other vital reporting outlets at the city, state, and regional level—represents a crisis for American democracy. When ad revenue dries up, consolidation and
cost cutting gut newsrooms, beats remain uncovered, and corruption goes uninvestigated, the American
populace lacks vital information about their lives and their communities. A vibrant, responsive democracy
requires enlightened citizens, and without forceful local reporting they are kept in the dark.
At a time when political polarization is increasing and fraudulent news is spreading, a shared factbased discourse on the issues that most directly
affect us is both more essential and more elusive than ever. Without reliable information on how tax dollars
are spent, how federal policy affects local communities, and whether local elected officials are meeting
constituent needs, how can we expect citizens to make informed choices about who should govern?
The consequences of imperiled local news ecosystems for U.S. political and civic life have already
been dramatic, and unless we take concerted action, they will only get worse. Building on the work
of experts in journalism and media, PEN America has prepared this report to examine how the local
news crisis affects communities and democracy, and to propose ways to address it. As an organization
dedicated to both the celebration and defense of free expression, we recognize that the press plays
a vital role in making people’s voices heard, and in enabling not just their right to speak, but their right
to know. 
The report will begin by exploring why local journalism matters. As Michigan web publisher Khalil Hachem explained to PEN America: “The essence of local news
is, first, providing information for people to understand what’s going on, information that affects their lives. Second, holding public officials accountable. And
third, making sure that democracy is healthy.”
Local journalists serve as a voice of the people, using the megaphone of the press to air their neighbors’ frustrations, concerns, and needs—and to bring regional
or national attention to pressing local issues. Local journalism also acts as a watchdog for corporate and
government accountability and a building block of social cohesion.

(Footnotes omitted).