Congress Declares April 2025 'Local News Month' to Highlight Crisis of 3,200 Lost Newspapers

This Congressional Resolution officially designates April 2025 as "Preserving and Protecting Local News Month." Crucially, this is not a new law, a funding bill, or a regulatory change; it’s Congress making a formal, documented statement about the state of local journalism in America. Think of it as a very serious public service announcement backed by a mountain of data, affirming that local news is a vital public good that keeps our communities healthy and democratic.

The Data on News Deserts: What’s Actually Happening

This resolution lays out the grim facts that should make anyone who cares about their town’s future pay attention. Since 2005, the U.S. has lost over 3,200 local print outlets—that’s roughly 2.5 newspapers closing every single week. This decline has created "news deserts," meaning over 3.5 million people in more than 200 counties now have no local newspaper coverage at all. For the average person, this means the local school board’s budget, the city council’s zoning decisions, and the county sheriff’s activities are happening without any dedicated oversight, leaving residents in the dark about how their tax dollars are being spent and who is making decisions that affect their property values and daily lives.

Who Gets Hit Hardest When the Local Paper Folds

The decline isn't hitting everyone equally. The resolution specifically notes that rural counties have been disproportionately affected, losing over 500 newspapers since 2005. Furthermore, this crisis hits high-poverty areas and communities with large Black, Latino, and Native American populations particularly hard. When local news disappears, it's not just about losing sports scores; it means losing the specific voices and perspectives that hold local power accountable and provide information tailored to minority communities, who often rely on these outlets for essential civic information. For instance, the resolution notes that the number of Black journalists at daily papers dropped by 40% between 1997 and 2014, showing the loss of representation is real and deep.

The Economic Reality: Why the Lights Are Going Out

Why is this happening? Money. Between 2013 and 2023, newspaper advertising revenue dropped by nearly 60%. This massive shift in the advertising market has dried up the funding source that traditionally paid for journalists. The result? Newsroom jobs fell by 57% in newspapers between 2008 and 2020. For someone considering a career in journalism, or even someone who depends on specialized local reporting—like an environmental activist tracking a local pollution issue or a small business owner needing coverage of new regulations—this means the experienced reporters who used to cover those beats are gone, replaced perhaps by a single reporter trying to cover five beats at once, leading to "ghost newspapers" that can’t do real investigative work.

The Bigger Picture: A Call for Future Action?

While this resolution doesn't create any new programs, it does two important things. First, it formally documents the severity and demographic impact of this crisis, providing a factual basis for future policy debates. Second, it draws a historical parallel, reminding us that Congress once created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to fill a public interest gap that commercial media wouldn't cover. This historical context strongly suggests the Senate believes the current crisis warrants a similar, urgent response. For the average citizen, this resolution is a signal that the government is finally recognizing that the disappearance of local news is a serious problem, setting the stage for potential legislative action down the road to support the media infrastructure that keeps our local democracy running.