Wow! More than 500 people watched a film about local journalism with us!

People care about local journalism and democracy more than ever.

On March 29, 2025 550+ people from across the country joined the Media and Democracy Project on a Saturday night for a community screening of a powerful documentary focused on the state and importance of local journalism, our democracy, and ways to mobilize in support of both. 

Just when we need them most, local newspapers across America are being plundered. Hedge funds run by secretive billionaires concerned only with profit are buying and then gutting newsrooms. No one knew why until a courageous journalist - Julie Reynolds - at one of those papers began to investigate. That story is told in the documentary Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink (watch the trailer HERE).

Two-time Academy Award nominated Producer/Director Rick Goldsmith, whose film engagingly explains the profit-motive problem as part of a battle to save and rebuild local journalism, participated in Q&A session following the Zoom screening which inspired a discussion on actions we can take. An astounding 330+ people left positive reviews of the film and event with just two people reporting a negative experience. 

Emphasizing the importance of local journalism in this moment of democracy under attack, Goldsmith encouraged the audience to get to know their local newspapers and to support them through subscriptions and/or donations. He pointed out that large newspapers with national reach like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times have also “been very compromised by the actions of their billionaire owners,” so even in those cities readers must also seek additional news sources. Goldsmith pointed to the MAD local journalism 50-state local journalism directory as a useful resource for this: https://strippedforpartsfilm.com/action-toolkit/. Goldsmith mentioned that, with a little digging, readers can also find out who owns their local newspapers. He said that if the owner is a hedge fund like Alden Global Capital subscribers should know that they are reading a paper “with certain limitations” and “that’s probably one of the reasons why you don’t want to rely solely on that paper for your local news.” He added, though, that even hedge fund-owned papers often have very good journalists. 

It’s still an open question who will control the future of America’s news coverage - and the fate of an informed electorate. Will it be those whose main motivation is profit, or those who see journalism as an essential public service and the lifeblood of democracy? In addition to finding ways to re-engage Americans, the ultimate solutions to a healthy and robust news media ecosystem will certainly involve new media innovations. 

“I think the more and more people that put their brains and their efforts to the issue of reinventing and rebuilding local journalism, the more likely it is that we're going to make our way out of this mess,” said Goldsmith. “Especially among the younger generation, I think they're coming up with new solutions on how to talk to their peers that people of my generation might not even imagine.”

Affirming the role of journalism acting in defense of democracy, Rick highlighted the power of local media and a free press by reading from an editorial in the Barre-Montpelier Times Argos. You can read the full text here.

What’s next?

If you missed the event or want to see it again here’s a list of upcoming screenings of Stripped for Parts, or if you are interested in scheduling one please visit: https://strippedforpartsfilm.com/screenings/ 

Join our community as we engage in actions in support of local journalism. Our next Zoom meeting is Monday April 21, 7pm ET: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/430177/ 

Search our directory and subscribe to at least 1 local news outlet: https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-directory 

Submit a nominee for addition to our local news directory it’s not yet included: http://tiny.cc/GoodLocalNews 

We at MAD are always interested in hearing from people about their ideas for ways that our media and democracy can be strengthened. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at: info@MediaAndDemocracyProject.org

In community,

Randy and Team Media and Democracy Project