What is a news desert you may ask? A news desert is defined as a community that is no longer covered by a local daily or non-daily newspaper. There is a disturbingly large number of counties in the United States which have become news deserts, according to recent polling by the Meddell School of Journalism at Northwestern University (206 counties were news deserts in 2025) and the number continues to increase.
Researchers have found that the decline or disappearance of local news outlets has led to increased political polarization, reduced voter turnout and increased incumbency advantage.
I believe that a healthy democracy needs less polarization and more respectful conversations from various perspectives, particularly at the community level. Local news outlets are a valuable platform for these kinds of conversations; otherwise, there is increased dependence on national news and the corrosive effects of social media where too many people are yelling at each other to say YAY for my side while demonizing those who disagree.
Community news outlets cover important local government issues, city and county public meetings, announcements of community activities and a platform for local business to promote their goods and services, none of which are covered by the national news. Think what it might be like if the citizens of the community didn’t know when city and county boards meet, what was on their agendas, what they discuss and the decisions they make which affect us all.
I am thankful that we have a trustworthy local newspaper and local radio programs which help keep us informed about what’s going on in our community. I never want to live in a news desert.
We can avoid this fate by supporting our local news outlets and encouraging them to keep the community informed about the important things going around us. If all we had was national news and social media to keep us informed as my Grandpa would say, “We’d be in a fix”.
Don Butler
Clinton