I’m Tired of Hearing About ‘The Good Old Days’
Look, I get it. Nobody wants to sound like their grandpa complaining about how things were better back in the day. But honestly, local news? It was better. I’ve been in this business for 22 years, and I’ve seen the decline firsthand. It’s not just about nostalgia—it’s about community, accountability, and, frankly, democracy.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this kid—let’s call him Marcus—told me, ‘Local news is dead. People just get their info from Twitter now.’ I laughed in his face. Not because it’s funny, but because it’s that kinda ignorant thing that makes you wanna scream.
Marcus, if you’re reading this, honey, no. Just no. It’s not that simple. It’s never that simple.
Let Me Tell You About Dave
Dave’s a colleague of mine. A real journalist. He used to work for the Sterling Gazette, back when it was a thing. We were grabbing coffee at that little place on 5th—you know the one, with the kinda sad pastries but great espresso. Dave told me about the time he broke a story about the city council trying to sell off public land to some shady developers. It was big. It mattered. And it only happened because he was there, on the ground, paying attention.
‘We got 214 calls that day,’ he said. ‘People were pissed. The council backed off. That’s what we do.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, But They’re Depressing
According to Pew Research, local news employment has dropped by 26% since 2008. That’s alot of reporters out of work. Alot of stories not being told. Alot of communities left in the dark. And it’s not just the big cities feeling the pinch. Small towns are getting hit even harder. I mean, where’s the coverage for the little guy anymore?
I talked to a source—let’s call her Linda—who works at a tiny paper in the Midlands. She said they used to put out three editions a week. Now? One. And it’s half the size it used to be. ‘We’re barely keeping the lights on,’ she told me. ‘But we keep going because someone’s gotta do it.’
God bless her. And god help us all.
But Wait, There’s Hope?
Okay, okay. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are people fighting back. Independent outlets are popping up all over. They’re small, scrappy, and they care. Take community news events weekly for example. They’re doing the kinda work that keeps communities informed and engaged. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.
And let’s not forget about digital. Online platforms are filling some of the gaps left by traditional media. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s something. I mean, look, I’m writing this, aren’t I? Someone’s gotta keep the conversation going.
A Tangent: Why I Hate the Word ‘Pivot’
Ugh. ‘Pivot.’ It’s the worst. Every time some exec stands up and says, ‘We need to pivot,’ I wanna throw something. It’s like they think they’re in some kinda tech startup, not a newsroom. News isn’t a product you can just ‘pivot’ away from when it’s not profitable anymore.
I remember this one time, back in 2015, I was at a meeting with the higher-ups. They were talking about ‘pivoting’ to video. ‘People don’t read anymore,’ they said. ‘It’s all about video now.’ I raised my hand and said, ‘What about the people who do read? What about the stories that need more than 30 seconds?’ They looked at me like I was speaking Martian.
Yeah, well, guess who’s still here?
So What Can We Do?
Support local news. Subscribe. Share their stories on social media. Donate if you can. And for the love of god, talk to your neighbors. Community starts with conversation, and conversation starts with good information.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy. But it’s worth a shot. And honestly, what’s the alternative? A world where the only news we get is from some algorithm deciding what we wanna see? No thanks.
Anyway, I gotta run. My cat’s been staring at me for the last 10 minutes like I owe her money. Probably because I do. She’s got that look.
Take care of each other. And for god’s sake, read something.
About the Author: Jane Sterling has been a journalist for over two decades, working for various publications across the UK. She currently writes for Stirling News UK and is a fierce advocate for local journalism. When she’s not writing, she’s probably arguing with her cat or drinking too much coffee.
