Sangha of Auspicious Companions

How College Faculty and Students Are Reviving Local News

Northwestern University reports that “over 3,000 newspapers have closed in the U.S. in the past 20 years.” It not only means limited access to local news, but job loss for staff who live in and have long-term relationships with the community. Academic institutions such as Northwestern are working with students to either rescue legacy newspapers or start new publications focused on serving the community over profit. Students and academic staff work together to provide the journalism for the community while students earn credits or internships. “While the student newspaper office is inside the journalism school’s building, it operates independently.” One journalism school director said, “They know these communities. So that was really important just from a moral and ethical imperative, but also from a news perspective,” she said. “They’re trusted in their communities. They know what’s going on.”

Be The Change

Identify a way to appreciate and support your neighborhood and community journalists. Let them know what they mean to you.