In January 2023, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy released a paper analyzing how local public radio can fill the news gap created by the decline of local newspapers. The paper concluded 8 main findings and recommendations.
Key takeaways:
- Most local stations have the potential to be a leading news source
- A lack of capacity and funding are the primary barriers for local stations to fill the gap
- Less over-the-air, more digital-first content will better position public radio to fill gaps
Jessica Mahone, current CISLM research director and former Pew Research Center research associate, co-authored a study referenced in the paper. The 2016 study stipulates civic engagement is strongly tied to local news habits: 52% of respondents who closely follow local news always vote.
Read the entire paper on the Shorenstein Center’s website.