More Than Half of U.S. Counties Have No Access or Very Limited Access to Local News

The decline of local newspapers sped up in 2023, with an average of 2.5 closings each week. As a result, over 200 counties now qualify as news deserts, meaning that more than half of all U.S. counties have little to no access to dependable local news and information, according to researchers at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications.

For the first time, Medill researchers used predictive modeling to assess which counties are at risk of becoming news deserts. Their analysis indicates that 228 more counties are highly likely to lose their last remaining local news source. To create this "Watch List," Medill’s team of researchers and data scientists examined counties with only one local news provider, applying trends seen in existing news deserts.

The annual "State of Local News Project" report from Medill also identifies around 550 digital-only local news sites, 700 ethnic media organizations, and 225 public broadcasting stations that still produce original local reporting. Most digital-only news startups are concentrated in urban areas, further widening the gap between communities with reliable news coverage and those without.

A new feature in this year’s report, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, is the “Bright Spots” map. This interactive tool tracks local news startups that have emerged over the past five years. It also highlights 17 news organizations – both newly launched and well-established – that are experimenting with promising business models for the future.

Medill visiting professor Penny Abernathy, a co-author of this year’s report and an expert on local news deserts for over a decade, emphasized the urgent need to address the decline of local journalism. She noted that the loss of news outlets in low-income and underserved areas presents a serious threat to democracy. She stressed the importance of identifying the regions most at risk while also learning from successful efforts in other communities.

Key Findings from the Report

• A total of 204 counties in the U.S. have no local news source. Of the 3,143 counties nationwide, more than half – 1,766 – either lack a local news outlet entirely or are down to just one, usually a weekly newspaper.
• The rate of newspaper closures increased in 2023, with an average of 2.5 shutting down each week, up from two per week the year before. Over 130 newspapers either closed or merged in the past year.
• Since 2005, nearly 2,900 newspapers have disappeared. If this trend continues, the U.S. is projected to lose one-third of its newspapers by the end of next year. Around 6,000 newspapers remain, most of which are weeklies.
• The industry has also seen a dramatic decline in newspaper journalists, with almost 43,000 jobs lost since 2005. Many of these positions were at major metro and regional newspapers.
• There are about 550 digital-only local news organizations, most of which have launched in the last 10 years. However, these outlets are mainly concentrated in urban areas. In the last five years, the number of new digital startups has been nearly equal to the number that have shut down.
• Using data from existing news deserts, Medill’s researchers estimate that 228 additional counties are at high risk of losing their last local news source within the next five years. Most of these at-risk counties are in economically struggling areas in the South and Midwest, with large African American, Hispanic, and Native American populations.

Faculty, researchers, and staff from the Medill Local News Initiative and the Spiegel Research Center conducted a predictive modeling analysis using demographic, economic, and local news data from every county in the U.S.

Sarah Stonbely, co-author of the report and director of the State of Local News Project, described this as both a challenging and promising time for local journalism. She emphasized that with new data tools and growing awareness of local news' importance, the goal is to expand on Penny Abernathy's foundation and continue providing valuable insights in this critical field.

Tim Franklin, who leads the Medill Local News Initiative and holds the John M. Mutz Chair in Local News, pointed out that this year’s report is particularly significant because it identifies, for the first time, the counties at greatest risk of losing local news. This information offers community leaders, philanthropists, investors, and policymakers a chance to take action before a news desert forms.

Franklin, who is also Medill’s senior associate dean, noted that the report aims to be more forward-thinking this year beyond tracking current trends. He highlighted that the new "Watch List" counties and the "Local News Ecosystem Barometer" maps provide key insights, especially for those working to address the decline of local news.

Despite the ongoing crisis, Franklin sees reasons for optimism. He explained that the "Bright Spots" map highlights areas where local news is growing and showcases 17 news organizations that are pioneering new models for success.

This mapping project was funded by a contribution from Microsoft and developed by the team at Enlighten Designs in New Zealand.

Ginny Badanes, senior director of Microsoft's Democracy Forward program, stressed that strong local news ecosystems are essential for a healthy democracy. She explained that Microsoft supports local journalism and this important research as part of its broader commitment to strengthening democratic institutions. She also described the findings as a hopeful sign that local news infrastructure is starting to rebuild.

The State of Local News Project is one of six programs under the Medill Local News Initiative, a research and development effort aimed at strengthening the future of local journalism.

The project is funded by grants and contributions from organizations including the Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Microsoft, Myrta J. Pulliam Charitable Trust, the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation, and Medill alumnus Mark Ferguson.