There are many "news deserts" in the United States local news industry
April 23, 2024 14:23 Source: "China Social Sciences", April 23, 2024, Issue 2878 Author: Liu Yuwei

School of Journalism, Northwestern University recently released the "2023 Local News Report"。This report not only records the changing local journalism pattern of the United States,Family income、Population density、Per capita domestic GDP,It is speculated whether a person lives in the "news desert" that lives in the news media or "news oasis" rich in news media。

"Local News Report" project leader Sarah Stonbly believes,High -quality local news is as important as having public education resources and obtaining medical care services,helps to build a knowledge、Healthy society。but,In the United States,I inequality between the rich and poor communities between the wealthy communities of the local journalism industry and the poor poor communities in the local journalist industry。Poor communities are mostly "News Desert",Only a few Bet365 app download reporters search and report daily news,Although this is an indispensable part of community participation and democratic participation。A major challenge facing the local news industry in the American poor community is,The sudden shrinkage of advertising returns from traditional paper media to digital media。Advertising income of paper news accounts for about 80%of the revenue of news media institutions,and the proportion of advertising income of digital news is less than 20%。Since advertising income has continued to decline in the past ten years,Many American news media have to cut costs、Seeking readers funding or charity sponsorship。but,Public free -range control income for subscription and donation is limited,sponsorship of local charitable organizations is difficult to obtain,Some local news media can only maintain operation by reducing costs。This forms a vicious cycle,That is the declining news quality and the decreased reader,Eventually leading to the closure of local news media。

2023,There are more than Bet365 app download 130 printed version newspapers in the United States for suspension。Stone Belly said,They are the source that is most likely to produce local original content that can be produced by other media。Starting in 2005,There are nearly 2,900 newspapers in the United States for suspension。But,The development speed of emerging digital news media institutions is not enough to fill this huge blank。In recent years,The number of digital news media agencies in the United States is stable at about 550,About 20 news media institutions are established every year,At the same time, there are about the same number of institutions closed down。

In contrast,The wealthy community in the United States performs better in maintaining the development of local news media institutions。Stone Belly said,Countries with average household income of more than 80,000 US dollars have the ability to support the booming of local news ecosystems,This means that a county can have 10 or more news media institutions。and the average family income of $ 54,000 and below is more likely to become a "news Bet365 app download desert"。Current,In 3143 counties in the United States, 1,558 counties have only one news media,There are 204 counties who lack any newspaper、Local digital website、Public Broadcasting Station and other media,belonging to "News Desert"。Researchers are also based on the characteristics presented by the current "news desert",List 228 counties that may become "news deserts" in the next few years。

other,Population density is also related to the number of US local news media institutions。Report display,Most counties with 10 or more news media institutions are located in cities or densely -intensive suburbs,"News Desert" is usually located in low -income areas in rural or cities。The densely populated community often contains households with higher income,This forms a network effect,Make news media institutions get more audience in relatively small areas。

The network effect also led to another factor affecting the number of local news media institutions in the United States: GDP per capita。Report display,"News Oasis" region per capita GDP is 75140 Bet365 app download US dollars,Data in the "News Desert" area is 8964 US dollars。In the "News Desert" area,The average proportion of population living below the poverty line exceeds 16%,In areas where the journalism industry is developed,This ratio is 12%。This difference reflects the ability to put advertisements in local news media or by providing employment positions to make the number of companies that residents have the ability to donate to local news media。Broadband network service quality will also affect whether a community will become "news desert"。Stone Belly said,High -quality broadband network can almost be regarded as a necessity of contemporary life,But it has not yet been fully popular among the rural population in the United States。

Stone Belly thinks,The plan to solve the uneven development of the US local journalist industry is becoming increasingly clear。First,Expansion cooperation。For example,The Daily Yonder of the American media hires a story about the rural life of Colorado rural life,And spread these stories with news media bet365 live casino games agencies at the national and local levels。Next,Develop charity。National local news trust and other groups are acquiring news media institutions that will be acquired by hedge funds,I hope to transform it into a non -profit organization,To continue serving the community。Last,Give play to the positive role of public policy。For example,New Jersey and California and other places have introduced policies to support local journalism,In the future, there may be more relevant bills in the United States to pass the state legislative agency.。

(Liu Yuwei/Compilation)

Editor in charge: Cui Bohan
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