The Poynter Report Podcast The Future of Local News and America’s Growing News Deserts
Nov 5, 2025
Kristen Hare, Poynter faculty director and author of the Local Edition newsletter, explores the changing landscape of community journalism. She talks about the rise of news deserts, the effects of consolidation and technology, and why local ownership and niche innovation matter. Short takes on weeklies, obituaries as community memory, and creative local funding models.
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Failure To Prioritize Message Over Medium
- The journalism industry clung to formats instead of focusing on delivering news by any medium.
- Kristen Hare argues the failure of imagination to prioritize message over medium accelerated decline as audiences moved to phones and digital platforms.
Local Ownership Strengthens Newsrooms
- Local ownership tends to produce healthier newsrooms because owners and editors live in and understand the community.
- Kristen Hare notes editors living hours away miss small but vital local distinctions like Main Street versus Main Avenue.
News Deserts Grow Despite Digital Expansion
- News deserts are spreading as digital outlets concentrate in metro areas while weeklies remain connective tissue.
- Hare emphasizes weeklies' community role with examples like Boy Scouts coverage and obituaries that create civic common ground.