2021 Annual Conference: Informed and Engaged Georgians: The Essential Role of Local Journalism
Study after study in recent years has established that the loss of local news has significant social, political, and economic implications for our democracy and our communities. Strong local journalism helps create a social cohesion, sets the agenda for debate of issues, connects businesses to consumers, and encourages political participation by putting national issues, such as health care or gun control, into local context. A strong public information ecosystem includes and aids varied groups and viewpoints in a community, which helps challenge stereotypes and change narratives that perpetuate inequities.