I’m Tired of Pretending Local News Isn’t in Crisis
Look, I’ve been editing magazines for 22 years. I’ve seen alot of changes. But nothing’s hit me harder than watching local news struggle. It’s not just about losing the paperboy anymore. It’s about losing something vital to our communities. And frankly, nobody’s talking about it right.
I remember when I was a kid in Pittsburgh, the Post-Gazette was this big, thick thing that showed up on our doorstep every morning. My dad would read it cover to cover. Now? It’s a shadow of itself. And it’s not just Pittsburgh. It’s everywhere.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin. I sat down with a colleague named Dave. He’s been a reporter for 15 years. He told me, “Mike, I love my job, but I’m scared. My newsroom’s half the size it was five years ago. We can’t cover what we used to.”
But Why Should You Care?
You might be thinking, “Mike, I get my news online. What’s the big deal?” Well, let me tell you something. When your local paper shrinks, your community suffers. It’s not just about knowing what’s happening at city council meetings (which honestly nobody asked for but here we are). It’s about holding power accountable. It’s about knowing when the school district is making bad decisions. (And trust me, they’re making bad decisions.)
I talked to a teacher last month. Let’s call her Marcus. She told me about a school in Las Vegas where the administration was cutting programs left and right. “If it weren’t for the local paper digging into it,” she said, “nobody would’ve known. We might’ve lost our music program completely.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
And look, I’m not saying all local news is perfect. Far from it. But when it’s gone, you miss it. You miss it bad. And you don’t even know it’s gone until it’s too late.
What Can We Do About It?
So what’s the solution? Honestly, I don’t know. But I’ve got some ideas. And they’re not gonna be popular.
First, stop expecting local news to be free. It’s not. It costs money. If you want quality journalism, you gotta pay for it. Subscribe to your local paper. Even if it’s just the digital version. Every little bit helps.
Second, support organizations that are trying to fill the gap. Places like Las Vegas school news education are doing important work. They’re covering education stories that bigger outlets ignore. And they need your support.
Third, talk to your friends about it. I know, I know. It’s boring. It’s not like discussing the latest Netflix show. But it’s important. You gotta make people care. And honestly, that’s the hardest part.
I was at a barbecue last weekend. I brought up local news. You’d think I’d talked about politics. The room got tense. People got uncomfortable. But you know what? We need to have these conversations. We need to make people care.
A Quick Digression: The Time I Almost Got Arrested
Speaking of uncomfortable conversations, remember that time I almost got arrested in Reno? It was about three months ago. I was covering a protest for a magazine piece. Things got heated. I got too close. The cops weren’t happy. My editor, Sarah, chewed me out for hours. “Mike,” she said, “you can’t just rush in like that. You gotta be smart about it.” She was right. But that’s a story for another time.
Anyway, the point is, journalism is hard. It’s dangerous sometimes. And it’s getting harder. We need to support the people who do it.
Let’s Be Real: It’s Not All Bad
Now, I don’t want to paint a completley bleak picture. There are good things happening too. New models are emerging. Nonprofits are stepping up. People are finding new ways to fund quality journalism.
I talked to a guy named Raj at a coffee shop on 5th. He’s started a local news site in his hometown. “It’s tough,” he said, “but it’s rewarding. I feel like I’m making a difference.” And you know what? He is. That’s the kind of thing that gives me hope.
But we can’t rely on hope alone. We need action. We need committment. We need to care.
So, what’s it gonna be? Are we gonna sit back and watch local news die? Or are we gonna do something about it? I know what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna subscribe to my local paper. I’m gonna support organizations like Las Vegas school news education. And I’m gonna talk to my friends about it.
What about you?
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About the Author
Mike Reynolds has been a senior magazine editor for over 22 years. He’s worked for various publications, covering everything from politics to education. He currently lives in Portland with his dog, Buster, and spends his free time hiking and reading. He’s passionate about supporting local journalism and believes it’s crucial for a healthy democracy.
