Local news matters, but we journalists have work to do when it comes to delivering the information people value most, according to the northeast Wisconsin residents who took part in the Local News Landscape Study.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Center for Civic Engagement spoke to 251 people who call Brown, Kewaunee, Oconto and Outagamie counties home. Community members shared what they think about local news, what topics they feel informed or uninformed about, where they get news, and more.
The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation commissioned the study through the Press Forward Northeast Wisconsin chapter, of which Wisconsin Watch is a member.
What people said
Study participants value local information. However, areas they consider top priorities, like health care (76%), public safety (70%), the local economy (54%) and education (49%), they don’t feel well informed about.
While many people get their news from social media and digital outlets, television remains an important news source for many residents.
Trust in local journalism is stronger than social-media-based sources. However, people shared concerns about bias, sensationalism and repetitive coverage with researchers.
Some people reported feeling underrepresented and want more news coverage that reflects their lived experiences.
Participants pointed out several barriers to accessing local news, like paywalls, limited coverage of certain communities or issues and relevance gaps.
Local news has spurred civic engagement for nearly half of survey respondents, motivating them to vote, volunteer, attend events or donate to a cause.
What comes next
I found the whole study fascinating.
One area I keep going back to is section 3.2 (page 27 of the PDF), which presents key themes about “what matters most to residents.”
I hear so many of these same thoughts when I interact with people, from friends and family to community members. They share their frustrations about out-of-state stories on the local TV newscast. They wonder how the reporting process works and where journalists get the information we report. They want to watch or read the facts and make up their own minds – not be told what to think.
I agree. Here’s how Wisconsin Watch plans to use the results of this media landscape study to shape our coverage in northeast Wisconsin.
Astrid Code is our Scripps Howard Fund intern, and she’s reporting on issues affecting rural communities into the fall. Read her work so far here.
The Northeast Wisconsin News Lab (NEW News Lab) – a consortium of newsrooms that collaborate around a given theme – is working on election stories about the topics people said matter most but they don’t feel well informed on. Wisconsin Watch is focusing on health care.
Our weekly newsletter, Northeast News, aims to be an antidote to some of the negativity survey respondents said overwhelms them. Our rotating feature sections aim to spotlight community members and nonprofit organizations making a difference; shout out fantastic small towns and funky places off the beaten path; and offer community members a space to share their diverse, fact-checked opinion essays.
We’re brainstorming more ideas to fill the gaps highlighted by the study. In the meantime, let me know what stories you think deserve more coverage. Email me at jzvandenhouten@wisconsinwatch.org.
Are you on Medicaid and concerned about losing your coverage? Reach out to Astrid to share your thoughts: acode@wisconsinwatch.org.
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