One would have to look hard to find any local government official bemoaning fewer investigative reporters prying around city hall. And modern communications media is a valuable tool to government principals who often feel that traditional news fails to provide proper context or is sometimes downright inaccurate. But local officials should acknowledge the value that professionally produced local news provides both to the community and its government. The relationship is often fraught, but more interdependent than either the news media or local government may want to admit.
Local decision-makers should recognize local reporting — no matter the form it takes, whether in print, on TV or radio, or online — as first among equals in the sphere of information and communication. That means providing access to credible journalists and making the commitment to build relationships of mutual transparency, trust and respect. Ignoring reporters only starves the information ecosystem of necessary nutrients, while reinforcing a cynical view of public affairs.
Much has been made about local news disappearing from communities. There are severe tangible consequences: higher taxes, lower voter turnout, more corruption. The loss of reliable local news has a corrosive effect on the broader civic culture in which our localities are struggling to operate. The vacuum is being filled by misinformation, bad actors and misused AI. Some nonprofit media organizations, news startups and philanthropic funding systems have emerged to fill the gap, albeit insufficiently. Meanwhile, the recent rescission package Congress passed will almost certainly eliminate another source of local news for many communities: public radio.
Local news, in its ideal form, has built-in credibility that informs its coverage and readers’ perceptions. The audience is more engaged by definition on account of the extra effort required to find, buy and read it — as opposed to, say, an Instagram reel. In terms of a “news diet,” local journalism is like produce from a farmer’s market; algorithmic content is glazed doughnuts. There is room for both in a healthy community.
The public deserves informed leaders. Local newspapers and other professional news outlets cover important stories, in depth, that do not fit the flash-and-dash format of social media. A moving story about the effects of lead paint, for example, might reorder the priorities of local officials. Even the editorial page — often derided as the bulletin for bias and shallow opinion — delivers value to decision-makers. Opinion pages can provide context and a point of view that may not otherwise have received consideration. Thoughtful leaders can mine value even from the coverage they disagree with.
Those in the business of government communication should give special care to preserving quality local reporting. Journalism done well is uniquely capable of discussing local affairs with the depth and nuance they demand. By working with local news instead of against it, local leaders can empower a vital institution with the legitimacy it desperately needs. And with a less antagonistic approach, local reporters can provide coverage that seeks to explain and enlighten rather than merely expose.
Half of the counties in the United States are clinging to one local news outlet or less. By all means, local governments should communicate with audiences that rely primarily on social media and the Internet for information. But those mediums are not replacements for independent reporting. Moreover, in a system constantly scrapping for resources, hiring clever content creators is unlikely a top priority; most communities don’t have the budgets to afford such specialized personnel.
For its part, local news would do well to employ reporters on the government beat who bring some experience in the labyrinthine grind of public service. With greater appreciation for the difficult decisions local officials face, reporters can help citizens better understand their local government. That’s a win for both government and citizens.
Derek Smith is a staffer in the Buffalo, N.Y., mayor's office. His first work in politics was for a member of the British Parliament during the Brexit debate in 2016. Subsequently he served as a staff assistant to the Erie County, N.Y., executive and as a senior legislative assistant to the Buffalo Common Council. He has received a Theodore Sorensen Research Fellowship from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library to study White House press relations.
Governing’s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Governing’s editors or management.
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