The Shifting Local Media Landscape: What It Means for Public Trust and Local Government

Local journalism has long been one of the pillars of healthy communities — informing residents, holding public officials accountable, and helping people understand the decisions that shape their daily lives. But as local newspapers continue to shrink or disappear, what does that mean for municipalities, and for democracy itself? In this episode, Dan Kennedy, journalism professor at Northeastern University and media commentator, and Karen Bordeleau, executive editor of The New Bedford Light, explore the decline of local news in Massachusetts, the rise of nonprofit journalism, and how changing media habits, social media, and AI are reshaping the information landscape. The conversation also examines why strong relationships between municipal leaders and local reporters matter more than ever. For Further Reading: More about Dan: https://dankennedy.net/ More about Karen: https://newbedfordlight.org/meet-our-team/ To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org