What Mapping Charlotte Can Teach Us About Local News

A new report identifies dozens of local news sources, from journalism outlets to church newsletters, to understand what really powers an information ecosystem.

When Hurricane Helene battered North Carolina, in September of 2024, communities needed information they could find, trust, and use—fast. They needed to know where to seek shelter, which roads were open, and, eventually, how to navigate complicated insurance and relief systems. They turned to a variety of sources, including local news outlets, as well as communications from schools, libraries, houses of worship, trusted nonprofits, and others.

That crisis exemplified how local news works now, and how trusted channels have changed over the years. I’ve been researching and writing about changes to local news, using Charlotte, North Carolina, as a lens through which to look at the landscape writ large. In a new report, funded by and in partnership with the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, my team and I used a new methodology to gain unprecedented visibility into who is providing vital local news and information, the topics they’re writing about, and the neighborhoods they’re covering—and not covering.