For democracy to work, politicians and citizens need a reliable and active public sphere to exchange and refine ideas, gather accurate information, and develop a sense of the common good. For such a public sphere to function, it needs common spaces – both physical and metaphorical – that rely on trained gatekeepers that can make sure that such spaces can function, that biases are effectively revealed and even countered, that rules of engagement make sure that everybody has free and equitable access to information and a chance to engage in their civic duties. Local journalism has been a crucial gatekeeper and guarantor for the public sphere. Yet today, journalism is in decline.
The lack of news means that neither citizens nor politicians can be as well informed as they should be and that politics, business, and society are also not as strictly monitored as they used to be. If no reporter is available to report on anything, that does not mean that nothing happens, only that it can happen unimpeded. If our society moves further in such a direction, then Bob Woodward’s warning could very well be on point, and democracy could very well die in darkness.
Yet time cannot be turned back. Advertisement, subscriber, and ownership models may have changed irrevocably. How can we nevertheless ensure that our future will not be as dark as feared by so many? What could be the future of state and local news?
