News Media Alliance spotlights the impact of local news

The News Media Alliance has launched its News Impact Project, including a News Impact Index of local news stories that have made a positive impact on their local communities.

For the last several weeks, the organization has been gathering examples of impactful news stories its news organization members have recently published. From these stories, the News Media Alliance created the News Impact Index, with summaries and links to view the articles on the Alliance’s or publisher’s website.

The stories in the index offer real world examples of stories that had a positive impact and that members of the community would not have known about if it had not been for their local news publishers.

“The information we get from our local news is what allows us to engage in our communities and with our neighbors. But currently, local news is at risk of disappearing, with many local newspapers shutting down, creating news deserts across the country,” said David Chavern, News Media Alliance president and CEO. “The News Impact Project aims to raise awareness of the critical importance of local journalism. Our hope is that people will read these stories, understand the unique value local news publishers provide, and decide to support their local news organization.”

News organizations may submit stories for inclusion in the index through the Alliance website.

In addition, the Alliance is producing a tool kit, to be released this spring, for news organizations to use in their communities (for example, at meetings with government and community leaders and educators) to raise awareness and drive support for local news. The tool kit will contain talking points, impactful stories from the News Impact Index and blog, letter templates and other leave-behinds that reinforce the civic role journalism plays in their home communities and encourage support for local news.

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