US Edition
There’s a ‘Severe Shortage’ of Local News Across the US, New Report Reveals
UNITED STATES, JUL 10 – Local journalist numbers fell from 40 to 8.2 per 100,000 residents, leaving one-third of US counties without a full-time local reporter, researchers said.
- On July 10, 2025, Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News published the Local Journalist Index, a study highlighting a significant deficit of county-level local journalists throughout the United States.
- This shortage reflects a significant drop of approximately 75% since 2002, when there were roughly 40 local journalists for every 100,000 people, compared to the current national average of 8.2 Local Journalist Equivalents , with numerous counties now having fewer than one full-time local reporter.
- The study used Muck Rack’s comprehensive journalist database, filtered for local contributors, to calculate Local Journalist Equivalents reflecting reporting capacity by outlet type, publishing frequency, and geographic focus.
- The data highlights a more serious and widespread shortage of local journalists than previously understood, according to the leader of Rebuild Local News, Steven Waldman. Meanwhile, Gregory Galant, CEO of Muck Rack, expressed hope that these findings will encourage more strategic funding and prompt timely policy action.
- The report implies major implications for community trust as thousands of counties lack adequate local reporting, highlighting urgent needs for philanthropic funding, entrepreneurial initiatives, and policy changes to sustain local journalism.
21 Articles
21 Articles
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