News deserts, as defined by the University of North Carolina, are communities with “limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level.” As national media covers topics with a broad, nationwide scope, it falls upon local journalism to cover the smaller, community-based stories in every part of the world. Yet local journalism has faced increasing pressures over the past two decades. Local newspapers have seen a steady decline — exacerbated by the rise of digital publications, social media, and the economic devastation of Covid-19. Still, we must engage more with local newspapers to restore trust in the media.
Americans’ trust in the mass media hit a record low in 2024. In 1972, a Gallup poll asked Americans how much trust they had in mass media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.” At the time, approximately 71 percent expressed a great deal or fair amount of confidence. By 2024, that number dropped to only 31 percent. In fact, more American adults expressed no trust in the media at all (36 percent).
This crisis of confidence stems from a deeply troubling reality: many Americans are losing faith in media objectivity. Instead, they believe the media advances its own agenda, polluted by corporate interests and political partisanship. Amidst such ideological polarization and overwhelming quantities of misinformation, fears of media bias — especially in coverage of politics and social issues — are more heightened than ever. And the din of “fake news,” propaganda, scams, and clickbait only increases reader skepticism to any information they receive, further damaging public trust in the media.
It is also in this moment of political tumult and uncertainty that the search for truth becomes infinitely more valuable. To reconcile declining trust with the demand for truth, local journalism comes in.
Local newspapers build trust with their readers because they have direct connections with the communities they serve and represent. As part of a shared community, local newspapers cultivate a sense of affinity with their readers. They give members of the local community a voice; they report on news for the community — whether that’s covering local events or bringing broader issues into a local context, illuminating the impact of national issues on the reader’s own communities. And local newspapers are crucial to keeping ourselves informed on changes within our community and local elections — one of the most direct ways to make tangible political change in our communities. Local newspapers don’t report from a distance, but from within, bringing stories that matter to their communities. Even as trust in the media as a whole has eroded, readers still trust local news sources more than national ones, according to a 2019 Gallup poll.
Local journalism plays a crucial role in delivering truth to communities. As news deserts grow, it’s ever more important that we engage with and support local journalism. The central commitment of journalism remains the same: to follow the facts, to seek the truth, and to provide clarity and accuracy. It’s written on the front page of The Phillipian: “Veritas super omnia” (truth above all). People seek the truth. People seek journalism they can believe in — and that starts with what’s closest to home.
