Summary

This document provides some news and information about local small newspapers and publications.

Benefits

There are many benefits to local small newspapers and community publications:

• ADVERTISING —  Small businesses wishing to advertise can have an affordable way to reach local residents.
• INSIGHTS — Subscribing to a few quality small town papers can help city planners, business owners, civic groups, and journalists learn more about how other communities address the needs of local journalism.
• LITERACY — Local papers support local writers and encourage literacy among readers. Longer form content has depth and richness that might not be available through social media.
• LOCAL ECONOMY — Revenue generated by local papers through subscriptions or advertising, along with jobs created for local writers, and the promotion of shopping locally, can help the local economy.
• RELEVANT — Local stories and information can be provided that is not available from other sources.
• RESPONSIVE — News can be responsive to community interests and needs.

News

Below are some news stories related to local news media and journalism.

Inside Higher Ed (14 Feb 2024)

“How Iowa Student Journalists Saved 2 Small-Town Papers” — by Johanna Alonso. Excerpt: In what may be the first such acquisition of its kind, the independent student paper at Iowa’s flagship university has purchased two local weekly newspapers. … Student Publications Inc., the nonprofit that owns The Daily Iowan, eventually decided to purchase the two papers, The Mount Vernon–Lisbon Sun and The Solon Economist. Last week both published their first issues under the new owners. … The acquisition appears to be a natural fit; the Sun and the Economist cover communities located within 30 minutes of the university’s Iowa City campus. The town of Solon is located in the same county as the university; the Iowan already covers the local government there, so it’s not much of a stretch to package some stories for the Economist. Now some in the news industry are hopeful the model could be replicated elsewhere, saving struggling community papers that might otherwise be forced to shutter or sell to a hedge fund, which have become known for wringing profits out of local publications while depleting the quality and quantity of their coverage.” [More…]

North American Precis Syndicate (Sep 2022)

“Small Town Community News Organizations Are The Heart And Soul Of Our Society” — by Dorothy York, President and CEO of North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS). Excerpt: Taking the road less traveled can lead to some innovative approaches to successful news sites. Some fiercely independent news organizations have opted for their own unique style and hyperlocal flavor, instead of the cookie-cutter designs that are available from the usual providers. Their strong sense of individualistic identity has helped differentiate them from others, and carve out a niche that serves an unmet need. Rather than going where everyone else does for news coverage, you might want to get off the beaten path and try researching publications in the 10 least populous states, who have some of the most interesting sites, with a long history and fun, innovative designs. Some of the least populous states have some of the most affluent and influential community newspaper readers. Here are 20 great independently owned news sites in the 10 least populous states, all supported by local advertising, in the wealthiest and most populous communities within those states. [More…]

PBS (3 Nov 2021)

“Feisty Community Newspapers that are Surviving or Thriving Against the Odds,” by Julie Reynolds Martinez — Excerpt: The Storm Lake Times, as featured in the documentary Storm Lake, isn’t the only small, independent newspaper to hang on in the age of news deserts. Here are five more independent papers that have managed to survive despite a global pandemic, takeovers of news chains by private equity, and the struggle to compete for online ad dollars. What sets these publications apart from their chain-owned counterparts is that, even before the pandemic, all of them kept their role as community servants at the forefront, and they’ve found creative ways to keep going through good times and bad. [More…]

Town & Country (16 Jul 2014)

“7 Of The Most Charming Local Newspapers In America” — by Ash Carter. Excerpt: In highfalutin watering holes and far-flung whistle-stops, these local newspapers keep their hives abuzz. [More…]