Karolen Eid '21 presents her certificate project, "Staying Afloat: The Future of Funding for Local Journalism," during the Program in Journalism's third annual Senior Colloquium.
During times of economic crisis, local journalism often suffers. Without access to proper funding, local journalism outlets disappear, creating "news deserts." This problem is prevalent in the Midwest, where diminishing advertisement revenue has led to a rapid decline in available news sources. Building on interviews with local journalism experts throughout the Midwest, this article explores the new reality of the local news industry. Underlying this reality are three key factors: the switch from ad-based revenue to consumer-based revenue, the rising importance of the hyperlocal focus and the potential of nonprofit funding.