Survey: NPR Local News Coverage Growing

A new survey by MVM Consulting shows NPR member stations around the U.S. are growing their local news staffs, increasing their local news airtime, and beefing up their local online news content.

The survey reveals high levels of actual growth last year and similar levels of predicted growth this year.

Filling the void left by commercial radio,  NPR newsrooms increase staffing. The growth begins with news staffing. More than 40% of NPR member stations grew their full-time local news staffs slightly or significantly in 2012.

Looking ahead to 2013, another 38% of NPR stations are optimistic they'll be growing full-time news staffs. Only 4% expect they'll be downsizing. The largest share, 58%, expect to maintain current levels of newsroom staffing.

The survey also asked station leaders about changes in the amount of local news or public affairs on air. While 60% reported no change in 2012, a third of stations said they expanded local news on air.