Local news focuses on events and issues that affect a specific geographic area. It can be disseminated through newspapers, radio, or local television broadcasts and is aimed at informing citizens about community events and holding government accountable. It also bolsters a sense of connection and community identity.
Local stories can range from useful daily information such as weather and traffic to civic news about schools, crime, or the economy, to cultural news about arts and sports. However, it is often difficult for smaller newsrooms to tell complex and in-depth local stories that can be accessed by all. Nonprofit news organizations can help fill this gap by leveraging philanthropic capital as one part of a diversified revenue strategy that includes advertising, sponsorship, and events.
In the United States, local news is typically broadcast on a regional basis by broadcasting companies that operate multiple TV stations. For example, ABC and NBC have local news programs that air on weekday evenings in their designated markets. In addition, some newspapers publish a limited number of editions for their cities and suburbs. Local media can be independently-owned or owned by larger corporations. Corporate-owned media may have more resources but can struggle with maintaining a strong local focus. Independently-owned local media can have a stronger local commitment but may be less financially viable. Both types of local news have an impact on the health of journalism and community engagement, with locally-owned outlets generally fostering greater trust and connection within the communities they serve.
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