local news
Keeping Local News Flowing
Local news was a focal point at the recent FTC workshop, “How Will Journalism Survive the Internet Age?" Reed Hundt reported on the Knight Commission recommendations and emphasized the role of local news in promoting the traditional U.S. policy goal of localism both in newspapers and in broadcasting. Matthew Gentzkow reported on his study that the entry and exit of newspapers from local communities have the most pronounced effect on voter participation in local elections. Tom Rosenstiel emphasized again that local newspapers have more reporters on the ground to cover local news stories than all other local news entities combined, and drew the logical conclusion: Economic threats to local newspapers strike at the heart of the availability of information concerning the issues of public importance to local communities.
Call Your Rep Today for Better Radio
There’s a bill moving through Congress right now that could open up the airwaves to thousands of new community journalists and reporting projects. The Local Community Radio Act will unleash a new wave of low power FM radio stations run by local organizations and nonprofits.
