Local News Outlets Seek Support to Combat Disinformation in 2024 Elections

As the 2024 elections approach, local news outlets across the United States are calling on readers to support their efforts in providing reliable, community-focused journalism. The initiative emphasizes the importance of donations and subscriptions to local news organizations as a means to combat disinformation and ensure comprehensive coverage of local issues.

The push for support comes at a time when many local news outlets face financial challenges, often resulting in paywalls that limit access to critical information. By encouraging readers to contribute, these organizations aim to maintain open access to news that directly impacts local communities, including coverage of mayoral races, city councils, state legislatures, and gubernatorial campaigns.

Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, highlighted the paradoxical existence of news deserts even in major cities like New York. In an August 2024 CNN interview, Jarvis noted, "Paradoxically, one of the largest local news deserts in America is New York. That's why The City was started." He further explained that established newspapers in New York have shifted their focus away from local issues, creating a void in community-specific reporting.

This phenomenon is not unique to New York and is even more pronounced in suburbs and small towns across the country. The lack of local coverage can leave voters vulnerable to political propaganda and ill-informed about candidates running for local and state offices.

Several independent news organizations are at the forefront of this initiative, including the Vallejo Sun, CalMatters, and THE CITY. These outlets focus on providing in-depth reporting on local government, politics, and issues that directly affect their communities.

The Vallejo Sun, founded in 2021, is dedicated to illuminating Solano County, California, with a focus on local government, policing, and extremist movements. Their mission, as stated on their website https://www.vallejosun.com/, is to "shine a light on the workings of democracy, politics, and government in Solano County."

CalMatters, a nonpartisan nonprofit news organization, covers issues affecting all of California. Their goal is to improve the state's democracy by increasing government transparency and accountability. Readers can support their work through their donation page at https://give.calmatters.org/campaign/564470/donate.

THE CITY, launched in April 2019, focuses on New York City's local affairs. As stated on their website https://www.thecity.nyc/, they produce "high-quality and high-impact accountability reporting" to ensure that the needs of New Yorkers are heard and addressed through effective policies and legislation.

By supporting these and other local news outlets, readers can play a crucial role in maintaining the health of local journalism and, by extension, local democracy. The initiative encourages not only financial support but also the sharing of donations on social media platforms to raise awareness and inspire others to contribute.

As the 2024 elections draw near, the role of local journalism in providing accurate, unbiased information becomes increasingly vital. By ensuring that local news outlets have the resources to operate without paywalls, citizens can access the information they need to make informed decisions about candidates and issues that directly impact their communities.