If a community is a chessboard, local news is the queen — a powerful piece that can traverse significant territory to protect its neighbors and keep those in power in check. But as every chess player knows, even the queen is vulnerable. Across the U.S., a crisis is unfolding that threatens this journalistic queen: news deserts are spreading, as local papers disappear or shrink, leaving many communities without a key player in the game. Since 2004, nearly a quarter of local newspapers have been lost — a staggering number that continues to grow.
But the game isn’t over. Digital news outlets, new business models, and community support are making strategic moves to revive local journalism. Technology may now be the critical new piece on the board.
What’s behind the rise of news deserts?
The traditional newspaper business model, which relied heavily on print advertising, has fallen apart. As advertisers shifted to digital platforms, newspapers lost a significant portion of their revenue, especially from classified ads like Craigslist, which once accounted for as much as 70% of ad income for some papers. Meanwhile, tech giants like Google and Facebook capture the majority of digital advertising dollars, leaving local news outlets with only a small share.
Additionally, audiences have moved toward free online news and expected it to remain free, making it difficult for newspapers to monetize their content. Budget cuts have led to a decline in quality, which causes fewer people to subscribe or pay, creating a downward spiral. Many papers have been slow to innovate, hindered by resistance to change at times, but more often hindered by a lack of cash.
Finally, severe staff and budget cuts aimed at maximizing profits, have turned many newspapers into ghost newspapers— publication that can no longer effectively deliver local news and information. Not surprisingly, such newspapers have very limited coverage. Budget cuts create a downward spiral which damages communities by reducing access to information, fueling misinformation, and undermining democratic processes.
How can technology help revive community journalism?
The good news? The emergence of digital tools and platforms has profoundly disrupted traditional local news business models, yet these same technological advances now offer powerful tools to revitalize community journalism. Digital technologies improve efficiency, enable innovative audience engagement, open new revenue streams, and reduce costs compared to legacy print systems. For local news organizations facing today’s challenges, effectively using these toolsis essential.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is especially transformative, assisting journalists and streamlining newsroom workflows without replacing human judgment. Newsrooms explore AI in multiple ways. AI models help draft articles, create summaries, suggest headlines, generate social media content, and repurpose material for various platforms. Tools such as Nota offer automated summaries, key points, and newsletter briefs.
AI also automates tasks such as tagging articles, transcribing interviews, monitoring government websites, resizing images, and checking style guide compliance, speeding production. It supports audience engagement by analyzing user habits to deliver personalized recommendations and tailor stories for specific segments. Additionally, tools like Naviga Flow, an AI-native editorial creation tool, automates the entire print production process for a publication.
Effective use of these technologies relies on data analytics to guide content, audience segmentation, and revenue strategies. This shift enables business models focused on reader loyalty rather than mass advertising, an important strategy that is certainly mission-aligned with community news.
What are some case studies?
Local news outlets are trying all sorts of new approaches to keep going in today’s tough media world. Nonprofits like ProPublica and The Texas Tribune rely on donations and grants, but they also use digital tools and platforms to reach people more effectively and stretch their resources.
Reader-supported models like Block Club Chicago build strong communities through memberships, managed with online systems. AI experiments also abound. For example, over the course of a two-week hackathon, Microsoft and The Philadelphia Inquirer teamed up to build an AI-based tool known as the Research Assistant.
VTDigger in Vermont is a small nonprofit that uses tech in smart ways. It makes the most of its email list, takes advantage of Google Grants, and pays close attention to search engine optimization so its stories are easy to find. Those digital tools help expand their reach while they remain budget-conscious.
Mississippi Today has done something similar, using tech to quickly share key information during crises like the Jackson water emergency. It also enhances its donor-funded model by publishing donor names online.
How does technology help smaller outlets?
While great journalism is still at the heart of everything, tech helps local newsrooms stay efficient and build strong relationships with their audiences. Tools like data dashboards, automated email campaigns, and digital donation platforms (and online spaces to recognize donations) make it easier to stay afloat. These tools don’t replace good reporting — but they do give journalists more time and focus to do what they do best: tell important stories. Tech helps smaller outlets track what stories are gaining traction, identify which supporters are likely to donate, and figure out the best time to publish.
Plus, shared tech services are making a big difference for smaller outlets that don’t have big teams or budgets. Platforms that handle membership management, CRM systems, or even basic website operations free up time and resources.
Journalists are still playing the same tough game, but tech has become the missing piece needed to play well once again. When newsrooms combine smart tech use with a clear mission and a deep connection to their community, they’re much more likely to survive, grow, and make a lasting impact across the board.