Local news: The thread to reknit our community ties | Kayce Ataiyero | TEDxWilmette

Key Concepts

• Decline of Local News: The erosion of local newspapers and the resulting "news deserts."
• Internet's Impact on Journalism: The initial decision by newspapers to offer content online for free, leading to a devaluation of news.
• Social Media's Role: The unintended consequences of algorithms creating echo chambers and amplifying divisive content.
• News Renaissance: The emergence of new, often nonprofit, local news outlets.
• Community Reconnection: The potential of local news to foster civic engagement and strengthen community bonds.
• Supporting Local News: Actionable steps individuals can take to help revitalize local journalism.

The Fraying Fabric of Community: The Decline of Local News

The speaker begins by evoking a nostalgic image of traditional local newspapers, highlighting their role in connecting communities. These papers provided relevant information about local governance (school board races, city council), infrastructure projects (road construction costs for taxpayers), and community life (comics, horoscopes, local events, stories of local achievements, and high school sports scores). This content fostered a sense of shared identity and collective rooting for the same "team." However, this "fabric of our community" began to fray, leading to a loss of connectivity and humanity.

The Internet's "Skynet Moment" for Journalism

The speaker, a journalism graduate from the University of Maryland (Class of 2000), recounts how the advent of the internet led newspapers to put all their content online for free. This decision is likened to the "Skynet moment" from The Terminator, where a technological advancement, intended for progress, ultimately led to unintended destructive consequences. By offering news for free, newspapers conditioned readers to expect it without cost, a "faithful decision" that proved detrimental. This led to a sharp decline in advertising and circulation revenue, mirroring the decline of the telegraph industry. The speaker emphasizes the adage, "you get what you pay for," questioning what society is gaining and losing in this new paradigm.

The Alarming Rate of Newspaper Closures and the Rise of News Deserts

The transcript presents stark statistics on the decline of local news:

• Rate of Closure: More than two newspapers are vanishing per week across America, according to the Medil Local News Initiative.
• Total Loss: This amounts to 3,200 newspapers gone in the last 20 years.
• Journalist Shortage: Over 1,000 US counties (one in three) lack even one full-time journalist covering their community, creating "news deserts."

This lack of local news leads to a void, where people turn to national news or social media, which often focus on divisions. The speaker argues that this disconnect, amplified by the "craziness of our times," leads to people withdrawing from the news and information equation. Research indicates that the closure of newspapers and the rise of news deserts correlate with a decline in civic participation, as people become less informed and thus less invested in their communities and each other.

Social Media: The Echo Chamber Effect and its Psychological Toll

The speaker draws a parallel between the internet's impact and the subsequent rise of social media, initially hailed as a "great equalizer." However, the algorithms designed to connect people have instead created "echo chambers of acrimony," siloing and segregating users. This leads to a distorted self-perception, influenced by extreme viewpoints, "professional provocators," and "bots."

Furthermore, these algorithms suppress real, local news, allowing divisive voices to dominate. The speaker asserts that these vocal and often vicious individuals do not represent the majority and are detrimental to well-being. Citing research:

• Journal of the American Medical Association: High levels of social media use, especially frequent posting, are associated with increased irritability.
• UC Davis Health: Social media can negatively impact overall well-being, contributing to anxiety, depression, and loneliness, particularly among young people.

The Renaissance of Local News: A Reboot for Community Connection

Despite the grim outlook, the speaker announces a "renaissance" in local news, describing it as a "reboot" aiming to surpass the original. New, often nonprofit, local news outlets are emerging across the country, driven by "news entrepreneurs." These outlets are committed to informing and connecting communities by telling stories about and for real people.

Examples of this Renaissance:

• Block Club Chicago: A nonprofit news outlet that began with crowdfunding and has become a national model. A specific case study highlights how Block Club's story about choreographer Randy Duncan, who needed a kidney transplant, led to a reader, Ranata Davis, donating her kidney, enabling him to dance again. This exemplifies the tangible impact of local news.
• The Record (Northshore): This outlet rose from the "ashes of commercial media" to become an award-winning source of local news, providing essential "bread-and-butter journalism."

The rebuilding of local news is supported by philanthropic efforts like Press Forward, a national initiative. The speaker is a member of the steering committee for Press Forward Chicago, working to build a coalition to invest in local news.

How You Can Support Local News: Actionable Steps

The speaker emphasizes that philanthropy alone cannot save local news and calls for the commitment and investment of everyone who values its role. Several actionable steps are proposed:

1. Subscribe: Fact-gathering is not free, and local news outlets operate on shoestring budgets. Subscriptions provide crucial financial support.
2. Give: Many local news outlets are nonprofits, making donations tax-deductible. The speaker suggests adding them to year-end giving lists or considering gift subscriptions.
3. Share: Sharing stories from local news outlets, whether via social media or word-of-mouth, is vital validation. Individuals can leverage their personal credibility as trusted messengers within their social circles to promote fact-based information.

Rebuilding the Public Square Through Local News

The speaker reiterates the importance of local news in an era where expertise and knowledge are devalued. The closer a news source is to an individual, the more credible it is likely to be, as verification becomes harder and the risk of misinformation and disinformation increases with distance. "Homegrown" news, produced by local reporters who are part of the community, offers credibility and accountability due to proximity.

The call to action is to "flood the zone with good information to drown out the noise and the chorus of crazy." Local news is presented as the means to "renit our community ties" and rebuild a "new public square forged by what unites us rather than what divides us." The speaker invites listeners to join this movement.