I’ve been a journalist for 22 years. I’m scared.
Look, I’m not one for doom and gloom. But honestly, something’s gotta give. I was at a conference in Austin last year, and Marcus—let’s call him Marcus, ’cause his real name doesn’t matter—told me straight up, “We’re in trouble.” He’s a good guy, Marcus. Been in the game longer than me. If he’s scared, I’m scared.
It’s not just the big names either. It’s the small-town papers. The ones that cover the school board meetings, the local news coverage update, the little league games. You know, the stuff that actually matters to people. I mean, who’s gonna cover that if they’re all gone?
I remember back in ’98, I was working at the Dundee Evening Telegraph. We had a team of 15 just covering local news. Now? It’s down to 4. Four! And they’re expected to do it all. It’s completley unsustainable.
But why should you care?
Because, frankly, local journalism is the backbone of democracy. It’s what keeps our communities informed, accountable, and connected. Without it, we’re just a bunch of people living in the same place, not a community.
Take my friend Sarah, for example. She’s a teacher in a small town outside of Dundee. She told me last Tuesday over coffee at the place on 5th, “I don’t know what we’d do without the local paper. It’s how we keep track of what’s happening in our schools, our town council, everything.” And she’s right. It’s that simple.
But here’s the thing, we’re not just losing journalists. We’re losing the people who keep our communities together. We’re losing the folks who show up at the city council meetings, who ask the tough questions, who hold our leaders accountable. And that’s a big deal. It’s a really big deal.
So what can we do about it?
I’m not sure, honestly. I wish I had all the answers. But I know it starts with recognizing the problem. It starts with understanding that local journalism is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.
It’s also about supporting the local news coverage update when we can. Subscribing, sharing, telling our friends. It’s about valuing the work that journalists do, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
And it’s about demanding better from our leaders. We need policies that support local journalism, that make it easier for these newsrooms to thrive, not just survive.
I don’t have all the answers. But I know this: we can’t afford to ignore the problem any longer. We need to act. And we need to act now.
Because if we don’t, we’re not just losing our local newspapers. We’re losing our communities. We’re losing our democracy. And that’s a price I’m not willing to pay.
So let’s talk about it. Let’s figure it out. Because the future of local journalism is at stake, and it’s up to all of us to make sure it’s a future worth having.
Oh, and by the way, if you’re looking for a good example of what local journalism can be, check out the local news coverage update. They’re doing some great work over there.
About the Author: I’m Jane McMillan, a senior editor with more than two decades of experience in the journalism industry. I’ve worked for major publications, covered everything from politics to sports, and have a deep commitment to the role of journalism in our communities. I’m passionate about the future of local news and the impact it has on our democracy. When I’m not editing, you can find me hiking in the Scottish Highlands or trying to bake the perfect sourdough bread.