The State of Local News
Digital media is the most desired and consumed type of news in this technologically-driven reality of the 21st century. Although this digitized form of communication might tend towards disassociation, news consumers still desire the community connection that local news has always offered.
For Emily Brown, a local reporter for “The News & Advance,” says she always keeps in mind that her story is for her local readers and to share their stories — a guiding principle to instill community connection.
While working in Nelson, VA, a few of Brown’s most community-driven stories came as a result of recommendations from other people. One of Nelson’s high school football players experienced a ruptured tumor in the middle of game play, and when Brown heard of the story, she made it her mission to cover it well — in the interests of the player and the community.
According to a study conducted by Pew Research, residents who see their journalists as connected to the community feel more impressed and positively inclined towards their coverage. Two components, especially, are considered important to the public: 1) that the journalist is personally engaged in their community (as seen in Brown’s coverage of the Nelson high school student), and 2) that the journalist understands the history of their community.
A different story that Brown covered required her to personally perceive an element that she felt affected the community, even while no one else was concerned. Renovation in an old courthouse revealed the phrase “Keep God’s Commandments” on one of their walls. Due to the religious and politically polarizing nature of the phrase, Brown set out on a months-long investigation, referencing documents, lawyers, and professors to understand the historical significance of the phrase and its impact on the community.
In this year’s life-altering circumstance brought on by a pandemic, local news has more at stake. Misinformation has abounded about this pandemic as it has become more politically complicated than necessary. It is up to local news journalists to connect with their audiences in ways that garner trust and cultivate unity and peace.
Brown spoke up covering the senior graduates in Nelson, specifically the ones who have lost the stardom of senior year sports. This is just another facet of the pandemic that matters to the people of Nelson. Effective coverage of this element should become a point for the people of Nelson to rally around, instead of another point over which to divide. This is how local news can help, rather than hurt, although it has the potential for both.
A journalist’s connection to their community is obviously important — for the journalist and for their community. Only 31% of people reported having had interaction with their community’s journalists. This can change when the journalist’s priority becomes their community — going to events simply to connect, even if there isn’t a story there. Journalists are obviously very busy, but in the words of Emily Brown, “Care about the person, and not just the story.”