There’s a ‘severe shortage’ of local news across the US, new report reveals

Since the start of the century, the number of journalists working in the United States has declined by more than 75 percent, according to the study.

Since the start of the century, the number of journalists working in the United States has declined by more than 75 percent, according to a new report detailing “severe shortages” in local news. “Stunningly, more than 1,000 counties — one out of three — do not have the equivalent of even one full-time local journalist,” states the report, published Thursday by Rebuild Local News and Muck Rack. “And the ‘better off’ parts of the country are in lousy shape, too.” Overall, even as the US population continues to grow, the pool of journalists is shrinking, leaving local communities without relevant news coverage. Areas with few or no local news outlets are often referred to as “news deserts,” and the new report highlights that these exist not just in rural areas, but also in highly populated parts of the country. The report uses data from Muck Rack, a PR software firm, to count journalists at the county level across the US. The researchers found that “less than a quarter-century ago, the United States had about 40 journalists per 100,000 residents on average. Now, the number is 8.2, according to our new calculations.” The sharp decline translates to fewer stories being told at the local level.