Rebuilding the ties that bind

Over the past two decades, the collapse of local journalism has exacerbated a broader unraveling of civic life in America. As local newspapers have disappeared, so too have essential threads of community connection. New technologies have reshaped how we live and connect, and today Americans are spending more time alone and in their homes than ever before. The consequences are palpable, felt by all of us across social, political and cultural dimensions. Polarization has surged. Trust in institutions has plummeted. And what social scientists call the “middle ring” — those familia but not intimate relationships with neighbors and community members — has eroded.

When we talk about the value of local news, we often point to the hallmarks of capital-J journalism: the accountability reporting, day-to-day coverage and investigations that keep voters informed and institutions honest. This work is essential and happening every day in local newsrooms across the country, with newsrooms breaking stories that result in community action, policy change and accountability. But, as we’ve found, good local journalism doesn’t just inform — it stitches communities back together.

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