How New York's Local Journalism Uplifts Communities and Boosts Democracy

Local journalism is essential to community health and democractic participation.

In the fall of 2024, MAD gave a presentation to an undergraduate journalism class at New York University. Some of the students asked how they could contribute to MAD’s efforts. The MAD internship program was born! Our first intern project is this piece written by Natalia Poma, a junior at the NYU College of Arts and Science (Class of 2027) pursuing a double major in politics and journalism.

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Last semester two founders of the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) visited my journalism class. They spoke with urgency about how local journalism sustains democracy. Local journalism plays a crucial role in holding power accountable — exposing how public funds are spent, reporting on whether local officials serve their communities, and surfacing issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Local news outlets provide community reporting that larger, corporate media often disregard.

As a journalism student, I wonder if community-focused media outlets will still have a voice in the future. As local newsrooms struggle to sustain themselves financially, will journalism shift more towards platforms that prioritize corporate interests and official narratives? Will audiences go along with such a shift or will they abandon traditional news media altogether? Many of my peers and I rely on platforms like Reddit and TikTok for news instead of established sources like The Washington Post. Fewer young adults are getting their news from traditional publications with each passing year.

MAD’s visit inspired me to ask members of the journalism community about their go-to local news sources. I created a short survey targeting students and faculty within New York University's Journalism Department. I asked what outlets they rely on for news and why. I asked these questions even as “one-fifth of the U.S. — 70 million people — now live in areas with little or no local news.” I wanted to explore how different news outlets serve different people depending on the communities they identify with and the issues that matter to them. Understanding these patterns helps highlight why local journalism is still essential.

The responses I received help confirm what the founders of the Media and Democracy Project have long argued: that local journalism is a cornerstone of democratic engagement. People rely on local news to stay grounded, informed, and connected to the places they call home. This context is especially relevant in a city like New York.

Respondents praised two independent sources, The City and Hellgate, which are mostly read online.

The City covers all five boroughs and focuses on investigative and accountability journalism. An independent non-profit funded by reader contributions and grants, it has received donations and philanthropic contributions from organizations such as Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Knight Foundation, and the Charles H. Revson Foundation.

The City helps fill the gaps left by declining local coverage from legacy media, shedding light on systemic failures that impact the lives of New Yorkers. For example, The City has investigated how enforcement of vendor regulations has disproportionately impacted immigrant communities. Instead of framing these issues as crackdowns by law enforcement, this outlet examines how these policies are implemented and their lasting impact on vulnerable communities. This ability to zero in on civic matters appeals to John Surico, faculty at NYU, whose survey response pointed out that the City "is doing some of the best investigative work into City Hall at the moment."

Similar to the City, Hellgate covers all five boroughs. Hellgate prioritizes traditional reporting and offers sharp insight and commentary with an edgy, humorous tone that makes it a popular news outlet among progressive readers and public sector workers. The outlet sheds light on issues like political corruption, policing, and labor movements–topics that legacy media outlets tend to approach with less scrutiny.

Hellgate is a worker-owned publication that helps sustain itself through a subscription model. ​As more people consume news for free and disengage from traditional journalism, this successful subscription model exemplifies how a local news outlet can succeed by serving its readers first.

As independent news outlets, The City and Hell Gate operate free from corporate, political, or government control. The lack of corporate ownership allows them to maintain editorial autonomy and focus on the public interest.

The Bay Ridge Courier focuses on hyper-local coverage in some of Brooklyn's most distinct neighborhoods. Its reporting appeals to long-time residents, homeowners, and small business owners who are invested in the economic landscape of Bay Ridge by covering businesses, new restaurant openings, and storefront changes that citywide news tends to ignore.

The Bay Ridge Courier tailors its news to the neighborhood’s differing ethnic communities. Bay Ridge has strong Italian, Greek, Irish, and Middle Eastern communities. John Papamitsakis, an NYU undergrad, believes this paper "creates a shared sense of community by reporting on local neighborhood stories that may happen." The Bay Ridge Courier often focuses on the specific cultural needs of its community, which is crucial as it provides news for a small and vibrant enclave.

Radio Catskill serves a broader regional audience that covers the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania with some additional national news coverage. Since it's a public radio station, it provides an array of interviews and local news. Radio Catskill's funding is similar to most public radio stations, which rely heavily on listener donations, grants, and underwriting from small businesses. One such listener is Pete Madden, an NYU faculty member who regularly listens, explaining that the station "has become a critical source of news and a driver of community cohesion."

WNYC is another public radio station that delivers independent, in-depth, and high-quality journalism to millions of listeners in the tri-state area. It is owned by New York Public Radio and offers programming from NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio Exchange, and BBC World Service. In addition to local reporting, WNYC provides international and national news.

Unlike commercial radio stations that heavily rely on advertising, WNYC gets its revenue through listener donations, federal funding, and corporate sponsorships, which helps ensure its editorial independence. One of WNYC's regular listeners is NYU Alumni Jolie Altshuler, who told me that the station "is a crucial and reliable source to inform New Yorkers on day-to-day NYC specific news while also covering important national politics." Altshuler is "grateful that NYC's coverage is so in-depth and accessible for regular listeners."

As someone who believes deeply in the power of journalism to inform, investigate, and connect, I'm alarmed by the steady collapse of local newsrooms and the rising tide of disinformation. When communities lose access to credible local reporting, they lose a vital watchdog, a shared sense of truth, and a platform for civic engagement. Supporting local journalism isn't just about saving jobs but preserving our democracy. Despite the struggles facing the industry, my hope for the future is tied to my studies.

I chose to pursue journalism because I believe facts and accountability matter. Whether I end up in a newsroom or not, I'm committed to uplifting a media ecosystem rooted in community—because informed communities are empowered communities.