The Atlantic

The Coronavirus Is Killing Local News

Keeping these news sources afloat needs to be part of the governmental and philanthropic response to the pandemic.
Source: Tony Dejak / AP

Among the important steps you should take during this crisis: Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. And buy a subscription to your local newspaper.

The coronavirus pandemic may be global, but the crisis has kept many people glued to local news. Trustworthy, accurate, and local information is now a matter of life and death. Keeping these news sources afloat needs to be part of the governmental and philanthropic response to the pandemic. The federal government should not “bail out” newsrooms, but future stimulus plans should include steps that can help save local news organizations.  

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