You’re pretty sure that local news contributes positively to democracy. But do you have the research to back that up?

In addition to this collection Democracy Fund assembled in June 2018, take a look at this list of research papers.

Academics have been diving into the structure and impact of local news operations for decades, and last week dozens of them gathered at Duke University to share a lot more at the Local News Research Conference. Hosted by Philip Napoli, the researchers dug into their work on the vital role that local news plays in informing communities in a democracy and discussed how their research can dig into its future steps. That includes papers like “Whites more likely to have spoken with a local journalist”, “Bursting the bubble of rural media deserts”, “Philanthropy in US journalism and the power geometry of place”, “How campaigns earn local media”, and more goodies. (We’ve covered several of them here.)

But the discussions pushed out more questions to pursue on who the researchers are trying to serve in their work and if the existing (currently not the most sustainable) models of news production are worth trying to save. The whole hashtag is worth an exploration, but here’s a roundup of the dialogue at the conference.

Is the decline of local news symptomatic of the decline of other institutions?

Can platforms and community-driven reporting replace the institutional media with the same authority and heft? What happens when school boards go uncovered?

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

is there are larger conversation by what do we mean by the word local – if news organizations think they do local what does local mean? (@Ali_Christopher ) "It's a floating signifier"

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

is there are larger conversation by what do we mean by the word local – if news organizations think they do local what does local mean? (@Ali_Christopher ) "It's a floating signifier"

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

lots of earth measuring talk here #localnewsresearch
–@mediaghosts – how do we use remote sensing data to surface what is happening and change over time in a community

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

“If we keep focusing on journalism and on saving journalism we’re going to miss the opportunity to save democracy.” – @mediaghosts on the lessons of her media deserts research and why we need to center communities, not newsrooms #localnewsresearch

— Fiona Morgan (@fionamorgan) October 4, 2019

Funny, I was just sitting here getting discouraged, feeling like I'm in a meeting from 2008, as @BillAdairDuke said. #LocalNewsResearch

— #TenureTrackHustle (@meredithdclark) October 4, 2019

@mediaghosts raises the issue of local legacy media as "rotting corpses" that have never served marginalized communities, taking up space where innovation could otherwise occur. #localnewsresearch

— #TenureTrackHustle (@meredithdclark) October 4, 2019

Emerging theme from #localnewsresearch today at Duke: the presence of a news org =\= service to the community, let alone the whole community.

— Lizzy Hazeltine (@LizzyHazeltine) October 4, 2019

@BillAdairDuke: What works in creating sustainable models for local journalism?@MaryWalterBrown: It's not that hard. Four revenue streams: Major donors, foundations, advertising, sponsorship. 50 percent philanthropy. #localnewsresearch

— #TenureTrackHustle (@meredithdclark) October 4, 2019

We need to think where the dollars are being targeted from nonprofits? My work suggests (in one day forthcoming book) that for investigative journalism:
1) that may not relate to "need" for news
2) that are largely blue
3) that are largely "like" their donors #localnewsresearch

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

@Noozlady mentioned this approach (nurturing local students/community reporters) to partner with nonprofit orgs to grow sustainable models toward doing local reporting. #localnewsresearch

— #TenureTrackHustle (@meredithdclark) October 4, 2019

Presumptions we have
1) people want to know more about their local community
2) people "need" to know more about their local community
3) people feel existing sources are problematic/lack this
4) local news/info is actionable/useful for monitoring institutions#localnewsresearch

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

@pmnapoli is telling us his FCC story. His research became politicized. They just wrote a lit review on community information needs. A blueprint of what we're talking about today. Campaign against them led by NAB and current FCC Chair. #localnewsresearch #PhDLife #phdchat

— Linda White (@Noozlady) October 4, 2019

who are we here for?
The industry?
The communities? #localnewsresearch

— Nikki Usher, Ph.D. (@nikkiusher) October 4, 2019

So many thoughts researcher’s about how higher education and local media can collaborate for equity, but only if folx can own that the consumption of media can be very painful for POCs. #LocalNewsResearch

— Rachel Edens (@RachelSEdens) October 4, 2019

This is the resounding message from Day One at #LocalNewsResearch. What connects, resources and activates community members via accurate, high-quality and local info? It may not be the dominant journalism models we have today. https://t.co/HIvCw53fIG

— Olivia Henry (@livmqhenry) October 4, 2019