MARCH 2026 ■ RoughDraft.news
in print
THE EVOLUTION AND IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL NEWS The March issue of Rough journalism. Draft in Print (née Reporter The industry continues to Newspapers) marks a milestone contract, according to the Medill for our company. At a time study. One hundred thirty-six when much of the news newspapers closed in the past KEITH PEPPER about the media industry is year, and newsroom employment PUBLISHER discouraging, it feels like a has fallen by more than 75 good moment to step back, recognize a percent since 2005. few bright spots in local journalism, and Americans also have a complicated give readers a peek behind the curtain. relationship with the news itself. A recent Across the country, local newspapers Pew Research Center study found that continue to disappear. The latest “State of about half of Americans say they feel Local News” report from Northwestern worn out by the amount of information University’s Medill School of Journalism they encounter, and many admit they found that more than 200 counties in have reduced how often they follow the the United States now qualify as “news news. deserts,” communities with little or no That tension between recognizing access to local news. In another 1,500 the importance of being informed and counties, only a single news source feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume remains, leaving roughly 50 million of information is one of the defining Americans with limited access to local challenges facing modern journalism. Continued on page 6
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