It appears that COVID-19 stimulated local news, especially in Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, and Florida. Here is a taste of Kristen Hare’s piece at Poynter.com:
More than 50 local newsrooms launched in the United States in 2020 and 2021. Nearly as many local newsletters started publishing in that time. We found them in 27 states and Puerto Rico.
As they did before the pandemic, the majority of digital startups sprang up around major metro areas, said Penny Abernathy, visiting professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. That happens thanks to better access to for-profit and philanthropic funding.
But Abernathy has been excited to see newsrooms launching in rural areas, including The Border Belt Independent in North Carolina.
And this:
Five newsrooms cite the closure of the local newspaper as the reason for their opening. This is from The Record North Shore in Wilmette, Illinois: “When 22nd Century Media ceased operation in March 2020, credible local news was ripped away from tens of thousands of suburban readers. Three of the company’s editors soon united with a common goal to restore responsible community reporting to Chicago’s suburbs, starting with the North Shore.”
Seven newsrooms include their plans to work with and for specific communities. This is from PW Perspectives in Dumfries, Virginia: “For too long, the minority communities of Prince William County have not had the voices we deserve. For too long, our county has been governed by hate. Through this anti-racist media outlet, we will elevate the voices of Prince William County’s silenced minorities. Here, you will find news, opinions, and stories relating to the Black, Latinx, Muslim, and immigrant communities. These are the voices of Prince William County.”
Nearly every site included here had an about page, making it easy to see quickly a list of values, sometimes an origin story and a staff list. That might seem basic, but it’s something many long-established newsrooms still fail at.
This list isn’t meant to be the matching bookend to our list of newsrooms that closed. They’re different in many ways, including staff sizes, mediums and mission. After two rough years, though, it does show something that’s easy to miss.
See the list here.