The State of Local News: 2026 Report

Northwestern Medill’s 2026 report finds that 238 U.S. counties have no reliable local news source. It also reports that internet traffic to the largest local news sites fell 50% from 2022, using Comscore data, and maps changes in ownership, jobs, readership, revenue, startups and news deserts.

The report documents strain across local journalism while also tracking new outlets and business models. Its wider question is how communities maintain reliable shared knowledge about local institutions—and what forms of reporting can endure as the economics change.