The decline of local newspapers in the United States since 2005 has created 'news deserts,' where communities lose critical journalism resources. A study published in Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly reveals five key factors behind this decline. It highlights a troubling pattern whereby newspapers prioritize financial viability over community needs. Wealthy suburbs maintain local newspapers while low-income and racially diverse areas face cuts. This loss exacerbates inequalities, as communities that require journalistic oversight the most suffer the consequences of unchecked government corruption.
Newspapers, like any business, tend to thrive where the financial resources are greatest, leading to a disproportionate loss of journalism in low-income and diverse communities.
These communities often face the harshest policing and government corruption, yet they are the first to lose their newspapers due to lack of financial resources.
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