1/3 of Newspapers Will Be Gone by 2024

I know you’ve probably heard that local journalism is in a bad place. But even I didn’t realize it was this bad.

According to a recent report by the Local News Initiative, by next year, more than 1/3 of all local newspapers in the US will have closed since 2005. And the map above, also from the Local News Initiative, shows that over 200 counties are news deserts – meaning they have 0 local news outlets.

That is terrifying.

And it’s why I’m asking you to join the Broke-Ass Stuart Patreon.

Local journalism is vitally important to a city, because local journalists know exactly how their city works…or doesn’t. And independent local journalism is even more important because those publications are unafraid to ask questions the big newspapers waffle on, and cover things the prudish mainstream media would never consider.

Plus, they’ve always been the best places to learn about emerging artists and musicians, cool nightlife, new restaurants, and funky stories about local people.

For nearly 20 years BAS has been doing all of this, and most importantly, amplifying voices that don’t always get heard. Please help us to continue doing so for another 20 years.

We’re 53 people away from hitting our goal of 100 new Patrons by the end of the year. Help us get there by joining today.