Millions of U.S. residents lack local news coverage as news deserts expand

Across the nation, more than 250 counties now have no professional local news outlet, creating “news deserts” that affect about 50 million Americans. An additional 1,500 counties depend on just one newspaper or broadcast station, while weekly closures of at least two papers continue to shrink the local media landscape. The rise of internet-based content has disrupted the revenue streams that once sustained community newspapers and TV stations, allowing anyone to publish without editorial oversight.

This shift reduces the ability of citizens to monitor municipal decisions, exemplified by a recent data-center project in Perry Village, Ohio, that advanced without public records or impact studies. He warns that until local news outlets are revived, the protective function of a free press will continue to erode.