Across the United States, local news outlets have been disappearing. That’s a problem. Scholars find that local news organizations strengthen democracy by boosting local involvement in cities and towns, helping to hold officials accountable, and reducing citizens’ partisan polarization. In their stead, a network of “pink slime” propaganda outlets has taken advantage of the gaps left behind, replacing local news outlets with deceptive and manipulative media.

Congress may be interested in helping to secure the future of local media. Several members have called on Congress to form an expert commission to help tackle these problems.

Now more than ever, local news outlets rely on getting readers’ attention and generating online ad revenue.…  Seguir leyendo »