Impact of Local Newspaper Decline on Government Transparency in the U.S.

The magazine "Editors and Publishers" (E&P) has published two studies highlighting that the disappearance of local newspapers in various U.S. states correlates with a notable decline in governmental transparency and an increase in the secrecy surrounding public records.

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Center at the University of Florida, emphasized that states with fewer journalists demonstrate a weaker commitment to freedom of information laws. He noted that the absence of newspapers allows governments to operate "unaccountable and unchecked." Furthermore, he pointed out that a robust journalism presence helps reduce budgetary waste and fosters greater political engagement among citizens.

Cuillier cited several examples of diminishing transparency, including barriers to journalists covering public events, the use of defamation lawsuits to intimidate the media, and the implementation of restrictions on records access. He also raised concerns about significant changes threatening press freedom, such as the discontinuation of White House visitor logs, the deletion of government data, staffing cuts in Freedom of Information Act offices, and the concealment of search warrants after their execution.

In a separate study, a survey of 330 information requesters revealed that local and state governments frequently respond to journalists with delays and refusals, often employing high copying fees and privacy exemptions to obscure documents.

According to a report from Northwestern University, 136 newspapers went out of business last year, bringing the total number of closed newspapers over the past two decades to 3,500 and resulting in the loss of approximately 270,000 journalism jobs. The findings suggest that around 50 million Americans reside in "news deserts"—areas with limited access to reliable news sources. Specifically, 213 counties lack any media outlets, while 1,524 counties have only one.

Experts warn that the decline of local journalism could lead to less transparent governance and decreased civic engagement, posing a significant threat to the foundations of American democracy.