The loss of local newspapers is leaving millions of Americans with limited access to community reporting. This finding comes from Northwestern University’s 2026 State of Local News report, published on October 13. Researchers identified 238 U.S. counties without a locally based professional news source, highlighting a compounding crisis in regional media infrastructure.
The Medill Local News Initiative found that 170 newspapers closed or merged over the past year. This represents an average loss of nearly three publications each week. The number of counties classified as news deserts increased by 26 compared to the previous year, with rural newspaper closures accelerating particularly across the Midwest.
The Growing Scale of News Deserts
According to the 2026 report, the annual increase in news desert counties is the largest recorded since tracking began. Beyond the 238 counties with zero local professional news sources, more than 1,400 additional counties rely on just one remaining local news outlet.
Altogether, nearly 47 million Americans live in communities with limited or severely restricted access to local reporting. Tim Franklin, founding director of the Medill Local News Initiative, described the current landscape as “a local news ecosystem in a state of precarity.”
Key Findings from the Medill 2026 Report
- News Deserts: 238 U.S. counties currently have no locally based professional news source, up 26 from the prior year.
- Single-Source Counties: Over 1,400 counties have only one remaining local news provider.
- Closures and Mergers: 170 newspapers shuttered or merged over the past year, averaging three per week.
- Industry Employment: Newspaper employment dropped by 8%, translating to a loss of more than 7,500 jobs.
- Digital Traffic Decline: Digital traffic to the websites of 100 of the largest local newspapers plummeted by 50% over the past four years.
Ownership Shuffling and Structural Pressures
The report also tracked significant volatility in ownership. More than 425 local newspapers changed hands over the past year, marking a 75% increase in acquisitions compared to the preceding year. At the same time, persistent economic headwinds have squeezed newsrooms further. These include declining print revenues and a sharp drop in digital web traffic coinciding with the rise of AI platforms.
To capture a comprehensive view, researchers conducted a census of commercial local television newsrooms for the first time. They found that three-quarters of the 678 evaluated TV newsrooms are owned by just the ten largest broadcasting chains. However, the inclusion of commercial television did not meaningfully alter the count of designated news deserts, as TV outlets are predominantly clustered in larger media markets rather than rural towns.
Startups Offer Partial Relief
Despite widespread contraction, the report documented ongoing intervention efforts. Over the past year, 75 local news startups-primarily digital-only outlets-were established. This brings the total number of startups created over the past five years to nearly 300.
However, researchers noted a geographic mismatch. The vast majority of new digital outlets and content creators are emerging in urban and affluent areas. They offer little replacement capacity for small, rural communities that lose their traditional newspapers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is defined as a news desert?
A news desert is defined as a U.S. county or community with no locally based source of professional local news reporting.
How many U.S. counties are currently news deserts?
According to the October 2026 State of Local News report by Northwestern University’s Medill School, there are 238 news desert counties in the United States.
How fast are newspapers closing?
Newspaper closures and mergers are occurring at an average rate of nearly three per week, totaling 170 closures or mergers over the past year.
How many Americans are affected by local news shortages?
Nearly 47 million Americans live in communities with limited or zero access to local news sources.
Are digital startups replacing closed newspapers?
While 75 local news startups were created over the past year, their numbers and geographic distribution in urban areas fall well short of replacing the reporting capacity lost in rural closures.
