Media, News & Journalism Economics
News Deserts
What happens to communities when local newspapers close, and research showing effects on government costs, corruption and civic life.
A news desert is a community with little or no local news coverage, usually after its local newspaper has closed. In the United States, research has found that a large number of counties have no local newspaper or only one, leaving millions of people with limited access to local news.
Why local news matters
Local reporters cover city councils, school boards, courts, police and local businesses. National media rarely report on these. Without local coverage, citizens know less about how their community is governed.
The evidence
Economists have studied what happens when local papers close:
- Higher borrowing costs: a study by Pengjie Gao, Chang Lee and Dermot Murphy found that after local newspapers closed, borrowing costs for municipal governments in those areas rose, as reduced monitoring led to less efficient government. Investors appeared to charge more when fewer journalists were watching.
- Less civic engagement: research has linked newspaper closures to lower voter turnout and fewer candidates running for local office.
- More polarisation: when local news disappears, people rely more on national news, and voting may become more polarised along national party lines.
Filling the gap
Efforts to address news deserts include:
- Non-profit newsrooms funded by donors and foundations.
- Programmes placing journalists in local newsrooms, such as Report for America.
- Public funding proposals in some countries.
- Community radio and local digital outlets.
India’s local news
In India, regional newspapers and local TV channels have historically provided strong local coverage, but financial pressures and concentration of ownership raise concerns in some areas.
A town's newspaper closes. No reporter attends city council meetings anymore. Over time, a costly contract is awarded without scrutiny, and spending rises. Investors lending to the town notice weaker oversight and demand higher interest. Taxpayers end up paying more, partly because no one was watching.
Online sources and social media spread news, but few employ reporters to attend local meetings or investigate local issues. The information may be abundant, but original local reporting has often disappeared.
- News deserts are communities with little or no local news coverage.
- Local reporting monitors councils, schools, courts and police.
- Research links newspaper closures to higher municipal borrowing costs and lower civic engagement.
- Non-profit newsrooms, reporting programmes and community media try to fill the gap.
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