Questions about the future of journalism in an increasingly digital world is somewhat old news. And yet, the stats are still startling: since 2004, more than 1,800 newspapers have closed; the remaining ones still suffered, cutting news coverage, shrinking the paper’s size, and/or ceasing production of a print edition. These moves proved devastating for many smaller cities and towns — including Youngstown, Ohio which lost its only daily newspaper this year — who are now left without a mechanism to hold public officials accountable. Now America is imaging a potential future without reliable local news.
Several initiatives are underway reimagine how journalism is funded and structured. One such program, Report for America (RFA), is modeled after AmeriCorps. and places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. It aims to install 1,000 journalists in understaffed newsrooms by 2022 by paying half their salaries.
Steve Waldman
Co-Founder and President, Report for America
Dan Moulthrop
CEO, The City Club of Cleveland
