Why community journalism matters

A young girl celebrates a point made while at a game for her local basketball team

In a time when national and international headlines dominate our daily lives, some of the most powerful stories may be the ones unfolding in our very own neighborhoods. Yet, these are the stories that often go untold.

Community journalism focuses on people, looking beyond major headlines and breaking news. I’m not just interested in which team won the game, I’m interested in the fan that came back to support his hometown team for a 30^th season. I’m interested in the supporter’s group leader who spent days perfecting a new chant. I want to know more about the who and the why, not only the what.

When I interned for a local newspaper, our layout typically consisted of local stories on pages one through three, followed by national or international stories on the subsequent pages. Readers followed our paper because they wanted to know what was happening right next door. What happened at the last city council meeting? What’s the progress with the new restaurant opening downtown? Are there any important local events coming up?

I once wrote a story about the local animal shelter’s longest resident being adopted, a dog named Evan. Although this story was ideated as just a light feature, it ended up being one of the most popular stories of the day. People shared it. It was something people cared about. That story reminded me that community journalism isn’t just fluff; it’s community connection. It reflects what people genuinely care about, even if it’s something people typically didn’t hear about. Especially if it’s something people didn’t typically hear about.

The issue, however, is that local journalism is shrinking. The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media has published a series of articles under the topic of “the expanding news desert.” One of these articles details that in 2004, newsroom employment was similar to peak levels from the 1990s. The number of journalists employed by newspapers has since been cut in half. Local and regional journalism was first to fall victim to this downsizing.

With fewer reporters and fewer stories told each day, a choice in content must be made. More often than not, that choice favors stories related to politics, crime, and breaking news. Community culture and everyday local experiences find themselves sidelined.

A community deserves to see themselves reflected in their own media. Journalists should aim to tell stories that amplify unheard voices, echo culture, and capture emotion. Every place and every person has a story to tell and I believe it’s more important than ever that these stories are told.