In the nine years I’ve worked at Poynter, I’ve covered newsroom closures, layoffs, newsroom closures and layoffs in a pandemic, and I’ve written a lot about emerging local newsrooms. I’ve never gotten to look at just one state.
Luckily, someone did it for us.
The Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon put out a study last week on the local news ecosystem in Oregon. It’s detailed, includes searchable maps and comes with recommendations based on what’s working around the country, including through my reporting and that of my colleagues.
There are a lot of lessons for every state here.
Associate Dean Regina Lawrence wrote about the study for Poynter, including this:
“In many respects, Oregon is like other states around the country: Seriously challenged.
“As Oregon voters prepare to elect their local and state leadership in November—including the first gubernatorial election in a generation that does not include an incumbent, and the first in 40 years in which the Democratic and Republican candidates are running neck and neck — the complex challenges our state faces require deep citizen engagement and a steady supply of factual and deeply-reported news and information.
“We decided that the time was ripe to examine the health of Oregon’s news and information ecosystem, to assess how communities around the state might come to understand local issues and the experiences and perspectives of their fellow community members.”
You can read Lawrence’s op-ed here and see the study here.
What’s working in your state? I’d love to zoom in with you.
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