New report reveals 75% decline in local journalists across the U.S. since 2002

You’re losing access to the stories that shape your community every single day. Your local news isn’t just headlines; it’s how you stay informed about school board decisions, city council plans, neighborhood events, and public safety issues that affect your daily life. Without dedicated local journalists, you miss out on the details that matter most to you. This decline isn't just about jobs. It's about the loss of community voices.

Local journalism plays a major role in keeping people connected and informed. These reporters are the eyes and ears of their communities. They shine a light on issues and events that shape everyday life. When there are fewer journalists, many stories no longer get told. That affects how informed a community is and how engaged people feel. Without solid local news, communities lose part of their identity.

The extent of the decline

The drop in local journalists has left many places without the coverage they once had. Large cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, and Queens have each seen their local journalist counts fall below what you’d expect in areas serving so many people. Even in some of the biggest population centers, the density of reporters per person has shrunk.

When there are fewer local reporters, there's less accountability for public officials and institutions. Local government decisions, school board meetings, crime updates, and business developments often go uncovered. National news outlets cover broad topics, but smaller, more personal stories tend to get overlooked. That means fewer people know what's going on around them, and fewer officials are held accountable for their actions.

The unbalanced landscape

Some regions have it even worse. A third of counties in the U.S. have fewer than one full-time local journalist. That creates a serious imbalance. Some areas are practically news deserts with little or no access to real local reporting. The problem is even more complex in areas like Fort Bend County, Texas, and Washington County, Oregon. These counties have been growing quickly, but their local news coverage hasn't kept up with their expansion.

For people who live in those communities, it becomes harder to stay updated on what matters most to them — road construction, zoning issues, school events, safety warnings, and local business news. That disconnect leaves residents feeling isolated even while their towns are rapidly changing. These areas desperately need stronger local coverage, but there aren't enough journalists to meet demand.

Without consistent reporting, changes and challenges can catch communities off guard. Public engagement drops when people no longer trust that they’re being kept in the loop. Over time, the decline pulls people further away from local issues and makes civic involvement harder to foster.

An unexpected bright spot

Vermont stands out as a rare success story. Unlike the rest of the country, this state has actually exceeded the number of local journalists it had back in 2002. That’s a noteworthy shift considering how widespread the decline has become elsewhere. Something different is clearly happening there.

So how is Vermont pulling this off? One reason could be that local journalism is more deeply valued and supported by the community. News outlets in Vermont might be more tied to local culture and identity than in other places. Residents seem to rally around their local media, supporting it not just as a news source, but as a pillar of their shared experience.

That kind of community-first attitude could help explain why Vermont’s local journalism scene is thriving. People take notice when their news sources are truly embedded in the neighborhood. It builds loyalty, trust, and long-term sustainability. It’s a lesson that other communities might want to pay attention to.

The broader implications

The drop in local coverage doesn’t just mean fewer articles. It hits community involvement hard. When people don’t know what their city council is voting on or what’s going on at their children’s school, they can’t take part in decisions that affect them. They become less likely to participate in local elections, community meetings, and neighborhood programs.

For businesses and marketing teams, this shift is a big deal. The channels they once used to reach local audiences are disappearing or thinning out. The result? Their messages might not land the way they used to. With traditional local media becoming less reliable, marketers may need to rethink how they communicate their news, events, and initiatives.

PR teams and marketing directors should recognize that fewer outlets mean fewer chances of getting local stories placed. That means rethinking how they connect with communities and build visibility. This could involve newer strategies like working with influencers, hosting local events, creating content hubs, or investing more in direct community outreach. Understanding this shift helps businesses remain present and relevant in their audience's daily lives.

Strategies for future success

Even with the current challenges, there are ways to support the rebuilding of local journalism. Success likely starts when communities, businesses, and media outlets work together with shared goals. Here are a few ideas that could help:

1. Create and promote community-led events that respond to local topics and invite reporter coverage.
2. Offer sponsorships or financial backing to support local reporting on beats that matter to the region.
3. Partner with journalism programs in schools or colleges to build a pipeline of new local talent.

These actions won’t fix everything overnight, but they can begin to bring more life back to local news. Taking steps now can help foster long-term engagement and coverage that reflects the real needs of a community.

Restoring the local journalism landscape is a collaborative effort. It takes people who care, voices that inform, and organizations willing to step up and support it. Being aware of the issue is the first step. Acting on it through smart marketing and informed PR work can help move the needle in a more positive direction.

How PR leaders can respond with confidence

Rebuilding attention and engagement at the community level is more than a media goal — it's a smart business move. Marketing directors who stay alert to these changes can better position themselves for success, especially when working with a team that understands how to reach local audiences amid this shift.

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