Welcome to the Local Fix. Every other week we look at key questions in journalism sustainability and community engagement through the lens of local news. But first, we always begin with one good idea…

Remember you’re more than your career

How we know that journalism can be good for democracy

People rely on local news to figure out who to vote for, how to speak up at school board meetings, how to run for local office, where to find vaccines, when to organize for change, and more. From daily reporting that equips people to act, to huge investigations that reveal corruption, the health of local news is bound up with the health of our democracy.   

Unfortunately, communities across the United States are steadily losing access to this kind of civic information. According to data released in June 2022, at least one fifth of the U.S. — 70 million people — live in a community without a newspaper or a community at risk of losing theirs. But we know this isn’t news to longtime Local Fix readers. 

Since 2018, we’ve been tracking academic studies that show in stark terms the impact journalism has on our democracy. This research review has become a critical guide for funders, policymakers, communities, and journalists who care about creating a healthier democracy. Now, we have just overhauled this resource, including adding a section that more clearly names the harms journalism has caused in our communities, especially communities of color, thanks to the guidance of UNC PhD candidate Andrea Lorenz.    

These studies and articles provide an enormous set of rigorous data that help quantify what happens when local communities have strong local news — and what happens when they lose it. Understanding the impact of quality local news on our democracy in these sorts of specific, data driven, nuanced ways is critical as we think about how to build a more equitable and sustainable future of local news that truly serves all communities at a moment of threat and uncertainty in democracy. 

➡️ Explore the research here to see the evidence behind things like:

• Strong local journalism = more people turning out to vote.  
• Weak local journalism = fewer people vote. 
• Thorough local journalism helps people be less biased when considering candidates for office. 
• Quality local journalism can counter divisive national narratives that contribute to polarization.
• Every dollar spent on local news produces hundreds of dollars in public benefit by exposing corruption and monitoring government spending.  
• People feel a stronger sense of community in places that have strong local journalism. 
• Local news keeps communities informed during times of upheaval, like disasters, protests, and pandemics — when people need critical information to engage their communities and leaders.  
• Important to remember: Local news isn’t inherently good for communities just because it’s local. 

On our radar

Reads

• Upstart news outlets are leading a media revolution in communities of color: “Without the help of larger traditional news organizations, upstart journalists are showing us a new way to get fact-based, carefully reported information to their communities. We should listen — and support them.” — Tracie Powell, The Chronicle of Philanthropy
• “We have to acknowledge there’s a problem at the core of how news is produced. Then, we have to shift power by accepting that all people—including non-journalists—can play a role in the production of reliable information about their communities.” — Darryl Holliday in Q&A with Kate Harloe, Popula
• The Center for Community Media at Newmark J-School is launching an Asian Media Initiative (AMI), the first national effort to organize and sustain community media for and by Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across the U.S. — Newmark J-School 
• “What is believed to be the largest state allocation ever made in California and in the U.S. to support local journalism, the new Berkeley fellowship program will award up to 40 fellows per year for at least three years with a $50,000 annual stipend to supplement their salaries while they work in California newsrooms covering communities in dire need of strong local journalism” — Ivan Natividad, Berkeley News

Jobs and other opportunities

• Chief executive officer, Online News Association, based in D.C., no salary or deadline specified 
• Growth programs coordinator, Institute for Nonprofit News, $48,000 to $55,000, no deadline specified 
• Revenue growth coach, LION Publishers, 50 hours of work between October 10 and December 12, $10,000 payment, deadline September 20
• Apply for mentorship with News Product Alliance, deadline September 26
• Development director, MLK50, $95,000, deadline October 5

See you soon,

Christine and Teresa
@heres_christine and @gteresa

The Local Fix is a project of Democracy Fund’s Public Square Program, which supports work that aims to transform journalism so everyone has access to information they need to participate in our democracy.

Disclosure: Some projects mentioned in this newsletter may be funded by Democracy Fund. You can find a full list of the organizations here.
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