Why the Fight for Local Journalism Matters
Mississippi Today reporter Anna Wolfe won a Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for an investigative series describing how Mississippi governor Phil Bryant directed millions of dollars in state welfare funds to projects that benefited his family and friends, among them former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Bryant sued, alleging that Mississippi Today’s CEO, and also Wolfe and her editor, had defamed him in their public comments. Last week, a judge dismissed the case, sparing Mississippi Today the prospect of being compelled to reveal confidential sources during the discovery process.
Related Knowledge Center: Local media
The hollowing out of the local news ecosystem has been well documented; in some communities, efforts are underway to reverse the growing news desert.
Related Knowledge Center: Free speech and public protest
The First Amendment is facing challenging times: Crackdowns on campus protests prompted both-sides claims of intolerance. Attempts to head off dangerous health misinformation have been characterized as violations of free speech. Donald Trump is publicly punishing news outlets that deviate from his administration’s version of events while privately suing some outlets into submission.
The White House vs. the press | Voiceless America
Related Knowledge Center: State of the business model
The traditional journalism business model has long since collapsed, and news organizations have shrunk or disappeared entirely. While a number of promising experiments are under way, the public has not shown a willingness to buy what news organizations are selling.