The emergence of local news organizations provides communities with a variety of ways to stay informed about what’s happening in their neighborhoods and cities. These organizations can foster community identity by reporting on issues that matter to residents and encouraging citizen engagement and participation. They can also hold local institutions accountable and provide a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Local television and radio operate slightly differently from national media. Broadcast TV stations can only reach audiences within their designated market areas (DMAs) based on the physical reach of their broadcast signals, while newspapers have a much broader audience.
For example, in Hawaii, local newspapers have a large readership that includes citizens in all of the state’s counties and communities. The DMA boundaries of broadcast TV stations can overlap with newspaper markets, resulting in shared viewers between the two. However, unlike TV, local newspapers can be more locally focused in their content and storytelling.
Regardless of how they are produced, local news should be an objective reflection of the issues that affect a community. However, a study found that while reporters strive for objectivity, their narratives can get in the way of this goal. While this is true of all genres of news, it can be especially prevalent in local, national and satire news.
This largely impacts trust in local news, with a 2018 Poynter Institute survey finding that 76% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of trust in their local news. While this is an important step in fostering trust, it’s critical to continue to push for more diverse and representative local newsrooms.