Axios - Most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources

Sara Fischer
5 Hours Ago



An uptick in newspaper closures this year has left more than half of the nation's 3,143 counties — or 55 million people — with just one or no local news sources where they live.

Why it matters: The rapid rise of digital local news sites isn't enough to offset the dramatic rate of newspaper closures.

-Digital news outlets also tend to serve urban and coastal communities, which are less likely to become news deserts.

By the numbers: The U.S. saw 127 newspapers close in the last year at a rate of roughly two and a half per week, according to a new report from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.

-As of this year, the U.S. has lost more than one-third of its newspapers (3,300) compared to 2005 — a statistic Medill projected last year.

-There's been a 73% decline in newspaper jobs during that time, representing one of the most significant declines in employment across any sector over the past two decades.

-U.S. newspaper circulation is down to roughly 40 million, compared to more than 115 million in 2005, a 65% decline.

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