Resolution Declares April 2025 'Local News Month' Amidst Widespread Closures

This resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month." Its core purpose is to formally recognize the critical role local news plays in American democracy and highlight the significant challenges facing the industry, citing the loss of over 3,200 local print outlets since 2005.

The Shrinking Local Story

The resolution paints a stark picture of the local news landscape. It notes that closures are happening at a rate of about 2.5 per week, leaving over 200 counties—home to 3.5 million people—without any local newspaper. Even where papers survive, many are shadows of their former selves, often called "ghost newspapers." This decline isn't hitting everywhere equally; the resolution points out disproportionate impacts on rural areas, high-poverty regions, and communities with large Black, Latino, and Native American populations. The job losses are staggering too: newsroom employment dropped 26% between 2008 and 2020, with newspaper newsrooms alone shedding 40,000 jobs (a 57% decrease). The bleeding continued with nearly 15,000 media jobs lost just in 2024, alongside significant drops in advertising revenue that traditionally supported these outlets.

Why This Matters (Even if It's Just a Month)

Okay, let's be real: designating a month doesn't magically reopen closed newsrooms or rehire laid-off reporters. This is a resolution, essentially a formal statement of recognition. It doesn't allocate funds or create new regulations. However, it does put the spotlight on a serious issue. By affirming local news as essential for informed citizens, civic engagement, and holding government accountable, it acknowledges the problem at an official level. Think of it as putting the health of local journalism—and its connection to healthy communities—on the public agenda for discussion and potential future action.