How Congress' cuts to NPR and PBS will exacerbate the crisis in local news
A list of award-winning local stories that are under threat after Congress voted to clawback funding of 1,500 local news stations across the country.
Local news is in crisis.
Every week, two and a half newspapers shut down. One in three of U.S. counties lacks a full-time local journalist. And roughly 55 million Americans live in areas that are considered "news deserts"—regions where access to reliable local news is severely limited.
Local news, which is defined as coverage of events, issues, and activities that directly impact specific communities or geographic areas, is vital for informed civic engagement. These stories aren’t typically about national headlines but about how issues affect local communities. Without dependable local journalism, areas in news deserts experience heightened polarization, the spread of misinformation, reduced government accountability, and lower voter turnout.
Local journalists say this crisis is likely to worsen after Congress passed a recession package that cuts $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). While NPR and PBS receive a combined 16% of CPB's funding, 1,500 local stations—many of which are affiliates of these programs—receive over 70%. These local stations are now at risk, amplifying the challenges already facing local news ecosystems across the nation.
“When local news is diminished or lost in a community, the public watchdog role of the press is muted and the potential for waste, fraud and abuse increases. This is a time when we should be demanding more support for the role of the press in healthy communities,” said Stewart Vanderwilt, president and CEO of Colorado Public Radio.
To showcase the type of local storytelling that is under threat, we have compiled a list of award-winning stories from some NPR and PBS affiliate stations. These stories are a reminder about the importance of local news and the need for more reporting on the ground.
Five local news stories you need to read
A story that dove into some of the many challenges those who work in the foster care industry face as they try to protect Florida's children, with limited resources.
Toyah residents have endured a years-long boil water notice due to ongoing contamination issues, forcing them to rely on unsafe tap water or costly alternatives as they await a long-overdue solution.
Boston University researchers found that the Lewiston, Maine, mass shooter had significant traumatic brain injuries—likely from repeated military blast exposure—which may have contributed to his behavioral changes, though experts caution that the link to his violent actions is not definitive
KDLL’s series explores the unique diversity and challenges of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
A legal settlement will allow thousands of disabled people in Massachusetts nursing homes to move into their own homes with state-funded services and housing support over the next eight years