When local news dies, so does democracy | Chuck Plunkett

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Nearly 1,800 newsrooms have shuttered across the US since 2004, leaving many communities unseen, unheard and in the dark. In this passionate talk and rallying cry, journalist Chuck Plunkett explains why he rebelled against his employer to raise awareness for an industry under threat of extinction — and makes the case for local news as an essential part of any healthy democracy.

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24 Comments on When local news dies, so does democracy | Chuck Plunkett

    • Not all local news are follow the money, (most) mainstream media are. Propaganda (specifically tug-of-war propaganda) are everywhere, even independent and alternate media are tainted too.

  1. You’re a “Ted” too late by 10 years, but spot on. Capitalism is a hard beast to tame when greed is it’s main threat.

    • Capitalism is where you vote with your dollars, corporatism and socialism is when government decides who passes and fails. Man oh man, we’ve lost our institutions. I bet you believe the government is the cure too right? lol. Keep praising our canadian healthcare and year long waits bro.

    • Furthermore: Greed and Profit are not the same thing, but to the entitled low-skill people, they don’t understand. Profit keeps companies alive, invests in RnD, and offers benefits. I’m guessing you’ve never worked for a company that gave you a company truck and credit card for your meals. Time to get skills young child.

  2. Well internet has not only badly effected print media and reduced news rooms and number of journalists
    But now it has now closed the whole world and confined us to our rooms due to Corona spread

  3. About halfway through I saw where this was going. He starts off by saying that the jib of local news was to filter information to tell the stupid people what to think. Then he goes on to say that it turns out that such ridiculous behavior is not profitable when people are given access to more balanced news nationally. So then the solution is to have the government run the local news. Really? You’ve got to be kidding me!? When I find a way to make a local news balanced and profitable? That’s the solution.

  4. This is the situation of every developed and developing countries.. I am from India and you made me feel what is happening here..
    I feel so sorry that news is dying before cheap entertainment

  5. Demo(n)-ocracy is two wolves and a sheep fighting over what is for dinner. The MSM is DYING and their DAYS ARE NUMBERED because especially in the last few decades, which the internet was quite a catalyst for waking people up to how the MSM have chosen less and less to give raw truth, to not give anywhere as before true seeking-the-truth journalism, they twist the truth into utter lies, they mislead, have becoming pure propaganda factories _(SEE OPERATION MOCKINGBIRD)_ and now people more than ever are learning who controls the mainstream media and for the various reasons they are lying so much to the people…. sure we are entering a time of where since there is more knowledge there is greater propensity for faux-news, and especially with ‘deep-fake’ technology etc.. but we have more cameras than ever before _(especially smart phones)_ and thus the whole dynamic is changing and thus… what will rule a part of the future is individual quality journalism. I will stop right there for now.

  6. Only problem with this title is
    There isnt one journalist worthy of listening to….
    You lost me…Denver post…liberal media.

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