Increasingly, people are using the internet to inform themselves of major news events, and turning away from local news sources. That change isn’t necessarily for the better; unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the many caveats that come with such a shift, especially when online searches become their only source of information.
That increasingly is the case, not only in the Rio Grande Valley but across the country, where many people are dropping local newspaper subscriptions and relying solely on electronic media for their information. The lost revenue has forced many newspapers to close, and even those that remain open have had to reduce staff to remain solvent. Twenty percent of our nation’s newspapers have closed in the past 15 years.
Such closures hurt the economy, depriving many small businesses of the most effective way to tell the public that they’re open and are offering special deals. They also hurt their communities in more significant ways.
Nationwide, the number of newsroom employees today is about half of what it was in 2004. Those lost reporters and photographers mean fewer people are available to report on local events.
That local reporting is critical for the health of a community. Countless studies, both public and private, reinforce that local newspapers are a “public good,” and important for a community’s success.
Those studies note that local reporters provide information that helps people make better decisions, from determining the need to improve drainage in certain areas to deciding on the best candidates to elect. A 2011 report by the Federal Communications Commission determined that local newspapers are the best media to provide information on major issues and help residents solve major problems in their communities.
Certainly, the Valley’s presence on the border brings national news coverage to many of our major issues, from immigration to border security. National reporters, however, get their information primarily from officials and advocates — stakeholders who might give responses that are impassioned, but often biased. Local reporters who know their community are more likely to talk to everyday residents who are most affected by officials’ decisions.
Most importantly, local news sources are the only way most people will get the information that is most important but often most overlooked. National media won’t tell residents of local officials’ proposals to raise taxes or spend money on questionable projects. Local media are the only way to learn when meetings are held and the first to tell residents of assaults and other crimes or even isolated disease outbreaks that threaten public health. They also give the public a chance to voice their opinions and provide information that might not have been considered — and could affect decisions made by officials and voters.
National media often have the resources to provide valuable information on the issues that draw the most attention. Local reporting, however, often is the only way people will get the information that has the greatest effect on their daily lives.
