Employment in local news has decreased by over 75% since 2005, with many states now employing fewer than 1,000 journalists across all media, highlighting industry consolidation and workforce shrinkage.

Despite these challenges, public support for local media remains strong, with about two-thirds of Americans trusting public broadcasters like NPR and PBS, which reach into 82% of news deserts, though funding cuts threaten their sustainability.

Since 2005, nearly 3,500 newspapers have vanished, predominantly impacting urban and suburban regions, with some cities losing over 70% of their newspapers due to closures and consolidations.

Print newspaper circulation has plummeted by approximately 70% since 2005, with fewer than 38 million copies circulated in 2025, and digital news traffic has also fallen by over 45%, reflecting a significant shift away from traditional news consumption.

The 2025 'State of Local News' report reveals a sharp decline in the U.S. local news ecosystem over the past two decades, with nearly 40% of local newspapers disappearing and over 50 million Americans living in areas with limited or no access to local news.

This decline has led to an increase in news deserts—counties with no or only one local news source—now totaling 213, affecting about 50 million Americans, especially in poorer, rural, and less educated communities.

While the industry is adapting through digital-only outlets and network sites, these are mostly urban-centric, with less than 10% serving rural counties, further deepening inequalities in news access.

Ownership of newspapers has become increasingly concentrated, with the number of owners halving since 2005 and most remaining papers controlled by large chains, leaving independent ownership, especially in rural areas, in decline.