Art by Erik Rodriguez.
As we witness the continued decline of local media, communities across America face an unprecedented era of rapid technological and social change without access to critical local information. Storied city newspapers have been reduced to husks by vulture capitalists and sold for scraps; digital media startups are struggling as Big Tech cements control over social channels and ad revenue; and all the while, the industry’s business model, which once supported critical storytelling, is now driving news outlets to compete for clicks and attention, rather than providing a public service. While many of today’s journalists are more steadfast than ever in their independent, fact-driven reporting, they face unprecedented threats — from censorship and political pressure to media consolidation — as they struggle to fulfill their mission.
But there’s hope. A vibrant civic media movement has emerged, reimagining how local news can serve communities. These people and organizations — whether they’re training residents to cover public meetings, documenting immigration raids, or helping people track wildfires — demonstrate journalism can be more than a business. It can be a public good, helping communities solve problems.
To be clear: We’re not against for-profit media. Rather, we’re in favor of any model producing news, information, and storytelling that enables people to respond to collective needs — what we’re calling civic media. Instead of sensationalizing people’s experiences and polarizing our communities, civic media promotes connectedness, enhances local coordination and problem-solving, and supports systems of public accountability.
The innovators committed to this work deserve more than a seat at the table — they should be leading conversations about journalism’s future. They’ve proven that when news organizations are truly accountable to communities, everyone benefits. This magazine celebrates their work while acknowledging the urgency of this moment. Civic media needs support now to realize its full potential. The stories here show what’s possible when we reimagine local news not just as something to consume, but as a tool for community action.
This project is a collaboration between The Objective, the News Futures collective, and members of Free Press’s Media Policy Collaborative. News Futures is a group of newsroom leaders operating proven models for civic media; community organizers galvanizing a racially equitable future for local news; and media researchers studying information ecosystems and the people who shape them.