Rebuild Local News

Jeff Bezos can become a real hero -- by donating The Washington Post to a charitable trust. His conflicts of interest are too vast, but Philly, Salt Lake City and Tampa have shown a better way. Here's how it can work. https://lnkd.in/dUkiMSdu Jim Friedlich Lauren Gustus Lenfest Institute for Journalism

Press Forward's recognition of public policy as a cornerstone in strengthening community news is truly encouraging. When paired with innovative business strategies and increased philanthropic efforts, First-Amendment-friendly public support becomes essential to a sustainable future for local journalism. This is a significant step forward!

As California works to finalize a settlement with Google that could allocate about $250 million toward local journalism, legislators in other states are considering whether to follow California's lead or to continue to pursue revenue-sharing bills on their own. “We do have a precedent of a job-based subsidy for local journalism,” said Policy Director Anna Brugmann of Rebuild Local News. “That’s an important legislative precedent to have on the books. We also have a precedent of tech supporting local journalism. Both of those are really good precedents that can be built on in California.” Read more at Medill Local News Initiative: https://lnkd.in/ghxGYpi2 #California #Journalism #Google #Media #Tech #LocalNews #Policy

The invaluable Medill Local News Initiative 2024 report is out. Mostly very bad news, with some signs of hope: --"Newspapers continue to disappear at a rate of more than two per week; in the past year alone, 127 newspapers have shut...Since 2005, more than 3,200 print newspapers have vanished." --"208 counties without any news source, up from 204 last year, & 1,563 counties with only 1 source... Almost 55 million people have limited to no access to local news." --The number of counties on their "watch list" grew by 51 counties (from 228 to 279) --"From 2022 to 2023, newsroom jobs – mostly reporters and editors – decreased by almost 2,000 positions while newspaper employment overall shrank by more than 7,000 jobs, compared to the few hundred lost in the previous year." Since 2005, a decline of more than 60% By the way, as the number of reporters has declined, the population has grown. In 2005 there were 25 “newspaper newsroom employees” per 100,000 people (BLS). In 2023, the number was 9, a 66% drop (Rebuild Local News estimate) --"A loss of a more than 40 ethnic media outlets --Some good news: there were more startups than closures, a net increase of 81. Often not in the same places as the closures. But shows that with more support – from readers, philanthropy and gov’t – we can turn this around. https://lnkd.in/eCNXSuN5

Local newspapers are vanishing, leaving gaps in coverage. The State of Local News 2024 Report uncovers how newsroom layoffs, closures, and consolidation are reshaping the media landscape. Since 2005, over 3,200 newspapers have shut down. Just last year, 127 more closed their doors, leading to a growing number of “news deserts” where residents lack reliable local coverage. This crisis also affects the people behind the news. Nearly 2,000 newsroom roles were lost in a year, shrinking the number of journalists and staff serving communities. For the first time in two decades, fewer than 100,000 people are employed in the newspaper publishing industry. Read the Report at Medill Local News Initiative: https://lnkd.in/gFNuMaea #LocalNews #Journalism #Media #Newspapers #Community #Research

Press Forward awards $20 million to 205 local news outlets – including one in every state – for their work closing persistent coverage gaps. “These newsrooms are proof that we are seeing a moment of transformation, where new and longstanding are stepping up to create a new story for local news,” said Dale Anglin, director of Press Forward. “Each newsroom plays a vital public service role in its community – providing trustworthy local news and information in places where no other sources may exist. Independent newsrooms need community support to survive." Learn more at Press Forward: https://lnkd.in/gwW2HXvv #Journalism #LocalNews #Media #Newspapers #Philanthropy #Community

"Americans continue to register record-low trust in the mass media, with 31% expressing a 'great deal' or 'fair amount' of confidence in the media to report the news 'fully, accurately and fairly.'" Learn more at Gallup: https://lnkd.in/ek7rc_BV #Media #Journalism #LocalNews #Newspapers #Broadcast #Trust

Did you know you can learn more about select Journalism grants on our website? Follow the link below and scroll down to "Grant Highlights" to learn about our partnerships with The 19th, Radio Ambulante Studios, The Futuro Media Group, TransLash Media, FRONTLINE PBS, and Rebuild Local News.   Grants to these organizations support journalism elevating underrepresented groups, voices, and content––recognizing #journalism as a critical element of a healthy and multicultural #democracy.   https://lnkd.in/gJDdF9Sy

New Jersey's state advertising dollars are largely concentrated among 10 major marketing firms, with limited transparency on fund allocation to local and ethnic media. This new report by our research coordinator, Hanna Siemaszko, found that since 2019, more than $230 million has been spent on state advertising — yet only $65,161.75 has reached ethnic media (with no funds allocated to ethnic and community media in 2023 or early 2024). The report, which was produced with guidance from the Rebuild Local News Coalition, calls for more equity and transparency in New Jersey's ad spending process. Request a copy of the full report at the link below! #newjersey #government #advertising #transparency #journalism #localnews

The Latest: The Center for Cooperative Media reveals that a significant portion of New Jersey’s ad spend is concentrated in just 10 large ad and marketing firms, with little transparency regarding their use of state funds. Read their Report: https://lnkd.in/eGu8rRxM At Rebuild Local News, we advocate for greater transparency in government ad spending. Our government advertising policy toolkit includes a recently developed model bill for state legislatures to mandate disclosure of state ad spending. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/grBvVZVk