The success of election-deniers in the Midterm Elections shows just how much work confronts us in our efforts to increase media literacy in the US. As happened in primary contests in August, candidates who promoted the Republican Party’s so-called “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen did well again, although the anticipated red wave did not appear to have … [Read more...] about As most trusted news sources, local outlets can do more to promote media literacy, especially around elections
Local news
‘Publishers can only do so much by themselves’
Growing up in rural Iowa, Becky Vonnahme didn’t have access to many local news sources. Now, as part-time executive director of the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation, Vonnahme has discovered why. Small publications, like small businesses, have a hard time getting funded. After all, ad sales alone just don’t support local journalism anymore. The foundation works to target … [Read more...] about ‘Publishers can only do so much by themselves’
State of rural journalism: Buyers needed, news deserts expanding
The challenges of rural journalism are mainly the challenges of the communities it tries to serve, and many of those challenges are daunting. But they are not dispositive. That was made clear at the National Summit on Journalism in Rural America by some sharp, innovative and courageous editors, publishers, academics and other journalism supporters. "Community newspapers are … [Read more...] about State of rural journalism: Buyers needed, news deserts expanding
Local news outlets can help readers vet credible sources of information on invasion in Ukraine
This morning as soon as I woke up, I went immediately to search for news from Ukraine. It’s hard to imagine a more important, more devastating story gripping the world right now. It is not a local story for much of America, yet, and its significance is undoubtedly greater to those of us who lived through the Cold War. I spent much of my childhood with the possibility of war … [Read more...] about Local news outlets can help readers vet credible sources of information on invasion in Ukraine
Local news outlets should do more to combat pandemic misinformation
A recent report tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations illustrates the extent of misinformation out there as we head into another long pandemic winter. The Kaiser Family Foundation COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor–a non-partisan source of health news—found that nearly eight in 10 of the people surveyed are unsure about at least one common … [Read more...] about Local news outlets should do more to combat pandemic misinformation