Christopher Baxter’s Post

In the news business for 60 years. His passion was local news.

Please please read this story linked below. I am so happy to see more mainstream news coverage of the news industry itself in decline. This is very difficult work for journalists to write stories about their own industry, it is incredibly counterintuitive for a traditionally trained journalist to report essentially on themselves. Most journalism classes teach reporters that they are “not the story”…. But this time, we are. It is my sincere hope that corporations across industries, celebrities, politicians, and anyone with money, power, and influence, take on journalism as their nonprofit cause for 2024… That companies and influential people outside of news will take notice, and see what is happening in local newsrooms nationwide, and decide to do something about it. And if you’re just a regular ‘ol normie — what can you do to help? Here are some ideas: 1. Subscribe and donate to your local news outlet. Even if it’s not that good…. It sounds awful but I think many people know what I mean. Local newsrooms have so many challenges financially that local news coverage and quality has suffered. I see it every day. They need money, and support, you can help. 2. Engage with your local news outlet. Send story ideas! Give feedback! Write opinion pieces, letters to the editor. Volunteer to work with them. Engage in any way that works for you. 3. If you work for a corporation, discuss creating donation match programs for your local news outlet. 4. If you own a local business, offer discounts for your goods and services to local journalists — many restaurants offer firefighters and teachers discounts on meals. Extend those offers to working journalists. 5. Sounds dumb but — JUST READ YOUR LOCAL NEWS! Or watch it. And not on social media, but on their websites, tv newscasts, download their apps, subscribe to their newsletters. And if you don’t like it, tell them why! And to all the people with power and influence who want to make a significant impact on the local news industry — let’s talk, I can help. We need more people drawing attention to this horrible situation. I’m a third generation journalist and I want to be able to tell me kids when they get older about how amazing a career in journalism can be — not how sad and horrible it is and not to do it 😩. Want to help? Share this post and my DMs are open. It’s time to build a proper awareness campaign around this problem that every single person will suffer from if the tide doesn’t turn. #journalism #news #democracy #localnews #journalismmatters

The Aurora Sentinel is Aurora's source for local news. The Sentinel, like many other news organizations throughout the country, is pursuing alternative funding models. That's why it's changed to a diverse funding model that includes community contributions through a shareholder campaign. While the Sentinel staff is committed to ensuring there is no charge to access their news, they need help to survive and grow. It takes just $10 to become an Aurora Sentinel community shareholder. Please consider the Sentinel for Giving Tuesday. Did you know? The rate of local newspaper closures has accelerated to 2.5 a week in 2023, according to a new report from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University released earlier this month. More than 130 papers have closed or merged this year. Over half of counties in the United States have just one or no local news outlets. https://lnkd.in/gZNgbyHF

Real Journalism Makes News...

Reframing the Policy Debate: We taxpayers are *currently* funding Big Media in the Billions, while Small, Local Media starves and withers. Public Notice advertising is legally mandated, much of it going to hedge fund owned newspapers now printing zombie editions with no local reporters. Discretionary ads for PSAs are routinely placed in Big Media and Big Tech, with less than 2 pennies on the dollar trickling to Community Media. We can and must change course Steven Waldman, Penelope Abernathy, Melanie Sill, Ken Doctor, Richard Tofel, Jim Friedlich

Thanks to a generous grant from the MacArthur Foundation, the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University Medill School commissioned NORC at the University of Chicago to conduct a comprehensive poll about local news behaviors and attitudes in the 14-county Chicago region. The findings starkly illustrate the rapid changes in local news consumption. Smart phones have supplanted TV as the device of choice for local news. Many people consume local news daily, but only 19% pay or donate. A slim majority say no one should pay for local news. Only 13% read printed newspapers often. And an overwhelming majority believe local news is doing somewhat well or very well financially, even amid widespread layoffs and expanding news deserts. https://lnkd.in/g98sDYAN

Many of my colleagues come to my office and ask me, "Faye, great flannel, but should I follow political news?" And there are a few reasons to say yes or no to this question. 1. Does your work receive government funding or can it? 2. Does your work benefit from institutes who receive government funding? 3. Does your work involve human rights or equity? 4. Can you vote in the state you work? 5. Do you like drama? And if the answer was yes to any of these questions, then you should follow state political news. Some reasons are better than others. But if you're wondering how to stay informed, then I have a recommendation - https://lnkd.in/gM7zUXBi. It's a new journalist outlet that will be reporting specifically on capital news!

If you have been following our Need to Know takeover, this post by my colleague Shay Totten will help you see how source tracking can contribute to your sustainability. Your communities will care about this work especially if you are transparent about your results. That can even translate into financial support. Check it out here!

At Impress, we are incredibly proud of the Trustmark that each of our regulated members display on their publications ✅ But what does it mean when you see the Impress Trustmark? Well, just for starters, when you see the Impress trustmark, you can trust that: 1️⃣ The publisher has volunteered to be held to account by the public and by an independent, external organisation. 2️⃣ There are processes in place to ensure the integrity of that information. 3️⃣ You can make a complaint through that publisher’s approved complaints policy, and if you feel unsatisfied with their response, you can take your complaint to Impress to make sure that a fair decision is made. Check out the full blog for more info! 👉 https://bit.ly/3SzGzye #KnowTheNews #Journalism #Trust

The WHO, WAYS, & DOING of HELP. Helping people is 33% understanding who needs help, 33% learning ways to help, and 33% giving that help. Discover the True Art of Helping, then go paint your masterpiece. That’s the 1%. And that “one” is YOU.