Local Journalism and Governance: the Impact of News Sources and Forms on Community Cohesion and Government Outcomes

Abstract

The American media landscape has changed drastically in recent decades; current trends are likely to continue as the internet shifts media consumption away from local newspapers. National newspapers and social media have in large part driven this change in media consumption habits, which has led to the disappearance of local, community-serving newspapers across the United States. This paper explores the effects of this loss on government efficacy, political polarization, and community cohesion. An analysis of crime and political data from American counties reveals no causal link between newspaper loss and these outcomes. Analysis of a Pew survey on local news consumption reveals that media habits do drive community cohesion and participation. In particular, reading local newspapers has a positive effect on community attachment and on participation in community-based groups. It is clear that future research is merited and indeed is necessary, as cohesion, participation, government efficacy, and community welfare are tightly entwined. Dramatic changes in society and politics with such potential to impact governance and welfare must be studied further, and policies to combat political polarization and worsening government responsiveness must be enacted.