OPINION
Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection—residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them open, and citizens having the facts to make good decisions. Local newspapers provide that connection in ways no other source can.In today’s fractured media environment, trust is the rarest commodity. Confidence in “the media” is low. Only 18% of Americans say they trust news on social platforms, and fewer than one in four trust cable networks. But nearly two-thirds say they trust their local newspaper— more than double the confidence placed in most other outlets.
In an era when anyone can post anything online, that clarity makes newspapers stand apart.Newspapers provide the facts that keep civic life running: city budgets, school board debates, and local elections that rarely make national headlines but matter most to daily life. They also highlight the stories that make a community feel connected: high school sports, neighborhood events, new restaurants, and profiles of people who make a difference.
