US Local Journalism Shrinks 75% Since 2002, Threatening Community Coverage

Local journalism across Michigan, Ohio, and the broader United States is facing a severe crisis, with substantial declines in the number of local journalists and news outlets. In Michigan, nearly half of counties and over 1 million residents have limited access to local news, exacerbated by a 40% loss of newspapers in two decades, prompting statewide forums to discuss solutions and philanthropic investments. A comprehensive new study by Rebuild Local News and Muck Rack reveals a 75% reduction in local journalists since 2002, equating to only 8.2 local journalist equivalents per 100,000 people today, severely undermining coverage of local governance, schools, and communities. This decline threatens democratic accountability, as diminished local media oversight enables potential corruption and secretive government actions. Ohio's public media, vital for statewide coverage, faces further risks due to proposed federal funding cuts, including those targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which could deepen the news desert problem. These developments underscore the urgent need for bipartisan policy efforts and philanthropic support to revitalize local news and ensure communities remain informed and connected.