DEMOCRACY
REQUIRES
JOURNALISM
We don’t get to keep one without the other.
THE RISK
The statistics are an alarming call to action.
Since 2005, about 2,200 newspapers have closed across the U.S.
In that same period, our communities lost about 44,000 journalists.
The combined effect of the disappearance of community institutions that both hold our leaders accountable and bring citizens together through storytelling is tantamount to a public health crisis.
It’s an emergency that should motivate us like a pandemic, or lead in our drinking water.
Read what researchers have found through actual peer-reviewed, empirical studies about what happens when local news goes away:
There is hope, though, and a potential solution for us to attempt together: The latest research shows that funding nonprofit news organizations might be our best bet to correct course.
OUR VISION
Our vision is of a more aware, cohesive, and participatory citizenry, celebrating our community, and optimistic in its future.
In this more perfect union we’re working toward, all of our neighbors are empowered with the information they need — to make informed decisions, to hold those in power accountable, and to create positive change in our community.
OUR MISSION
The Local Journalism Foundation was created to reverse civic decline through storytelling and citizen engagement. Our theory of change is that democracies work best with
diverse and representative,
abundant,
high-quality,
trusted,
useful, and
free-flowing information.
The Local Journalism Foundation will deliver this and realize its vision as a Civic Media Venture.