Local news could be key to combating partisanship, national expert says
The means of countering polarization could be as close at hand as the local newspaper.
However, getting one's hands on a local newspaper is an increasing challenge. A headline from a December 2019 article in the New York Times says why: "More than 1 in 5 U.S. papers have closed."
Joshua P. Darr, associate professor of communications in Newhouse School at Syracuse University, read this headline during Wednesday's Akron Roundtable, where he was the featured speaker.
Most of the papers lost are the smaller local daily papers and the weekly newspapers, Darr said during the presentation, "Why Local News Can Slow Polarization." He made another observation: the outlets reporting on the demise of newspapers tend to be the national outlets, which in general are doing well.
"The New York Times is fine," Darr said. "They can pull advertisers and subscribers nationwide. It's like the Netflix documentary about the downfall of Blockbuster. We live in a golden age of national news."
Darr said that there are several measurable differences in areas with strong local news coverage and those where local news coverage is sparse or the local paper has shuttered. In areas with strong local news coverage, there typically is:
More community involvement.
Higher voter turnout.
Lower municipal costs.
More "split ticket" voting, or not voting for just one party.
More contested races in elections.
"This is not just 'gosh, local news is good,'" Darr said. "There is scholarship behind this."
Darr's own research can be seen in a book he co-authored with Matthew Hitt and Johanna Dunaway, which was published in 2021. In "Home Style Opinion: How Local Newspapers Can Slow Polarization," the authors studied what happened when a local newspaper in Florida dropped national opinion coverage for one month. The newspaper staff found there was less polarization and more discussion of state and local issues in the resulting space.
"Local news is more trusted than national news," Darr said. "Part of it is the locality identification aspect."
There are efforts, including the launch of non-profit news organizations, that offer hope in establishing local news coverage, Darr said. He added he was studying the impact of nonprofit Signal Akron, which started in December 2023 to cover Akron-area news.
"I think it's possible for the local media to be good," Darr said when asked about his opinion of Akron news.
Akron-area news leaders to talk about polarization
To follow on this discussion, the Akron Roundtable's next Bring It Home Program on April 25 is "Local News Leaders Address Polarization."
This program will feature a panel of news experts who will address issues raised by Darr. It will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Akron Art Musuem. Cost is $30 per person.
The evening will begin with a moderated discussion lead by Mizell Stewart, professional-in-residence at Kent State University's School of Media and Journalism. The session will end with a Q&A from the audience.
Speakers include:
Andrew Meyer, deputy editor-news, Ideastream Public Media
Cheryl Powell, executive editor, Akron Beacon Journal
Susan Zake, editor-in-chief, Signal Akron
Admission includes the presentation, appetizers and one drink ticket.
For details, visit https://www.akronroundtable.org, call 330-247-8682 or email info@akronroundtable.org.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Local news can help combat polarization in communities
