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The U.S. newspaper industry is in steep decline, with news deserts growing at an alarming rate, according to The State of Local News—The 2025 Report by Northwestern/Medill Local News Initiative.
Over 130 newspapers closed in the past year, leaving 213 counties without any local news source, up from 206 last year and 150 in 2005. More than 40% of local U.S. newspapers have vanished, and over 50 million Americans now have limited or no access to local news.
News deserts are most prevalent in poorer, rural counties, where the median household income is $61,610 and 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line. Newspaper circulation has plummeted since the 1970s, accompanied by a 7% drop in journalism jobs. While over 300 new local news outlets—80% digital-only—have launched in the past five years, these startups are concentrated in urban areas and fail to offset rural losses, the report notes.
Compounding the crisis, Congress recently rescinded over $1 billion in funding for public radio and television. Though NPR and PBS may weather the cut, local stations face existential threats. New Jersey PBS is set to close in summer 2026, and NPR CEO Katherine Maher estimates 70 to 80 local stations could shutter, further eroding news access in areas already lacking newspapers.