The declining state of local news in the United States has left many communities without access to important information. Many newspapers have closed, resulting in a lack of coverage for small towns and rural areas. In response to this crisis, The Daily Iowan, a student newspaper at the University of Iowa, has purchased two struggling weekly publications in Iowa. This is believed to be the first time a college newspaper has taken such a step to address the issue of news deserts in rural areas. The move will allow students to work alongside the existing staff of the weeklies and provide coverage for the communities of Mount Vernon, Lisbon, and Solon.
The decline of the news industry in the U.S. has been significant, with a loss of 70% of newsroom jobs and one-third of all newspapers since 2005. This has been attributed to the rise of big tech and social media platforms, which have dominated advertising revenue. In response to this crisis, universities have been stepping up to fill the void in local news coverage. Many colleges have established student reporting programs to provide news for their communities, with some programs focusing on specific areas such as state legislatures or Spanish-language publications.
There have been various examples of universities collaborating with local news outlets to ensure the continuation of journalism in communities. The University of Missouri has a program where students produce a community newspaper under the supervision of professional editors. The University of Georgia saved a 148-year-old weekly publication by turning it into a nonprofit that students now write for. These initiatives highlight the importance of university involvement in preserving local news coverage and journalism.
The purchase of the two Iowa newspapers by The Daily Iowan was initiated by Bob Woodward, who recognized the need to find a better home for the struggling publications. Woodward had observed successful examples of universities stepping in to support local news outlets in other states. The deal was approved by Student Publications Inc., a nonprofit that oversees The Daily Iowan, and the transfer of ownership was completed in February. The move is seen as a positive step towards ensuring the continuity of news coverage for the communities served by the two weeklies.
The transition of ownership has involved absorbing the existing reporters and employees of the two newspapers into The Daily Iowan’s operations. Plans are underway to incorporate university reporting classes into the coverage of the communities and potentially involve non-journalism majors in the business side of operations. The goal is to establish sustainable models that produce high-quality journalism for the communities of Mount Vernon, Lisbon, and Solon. The editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, Nathan Countryman, is optimistic about the deal, as it ensures that the paper will continue to serve its community.
Overall, the partnership between The Daily Iowan and the two struggling Iowa weeklies represents a proactive approach to addressing the decline of local news coverage in the U.S. By involving students in journalism programs and leveraging university resources, these initiatives are playing a crucial role in filling the gap left by the closure of traditional news outlets. As communities continue to grapple with the challenges of news deserts, collaborations between universities and local news outlets offer a promising solution to ensure that essential information reaches all residents.
