"There are two kinds of value journalism can bring to the world: the public good that we recognize as a cornerstone of healthy democracy and the consumer good, those more personal benefits that motivate people to pay attention and support us. The two can overlap (and probably should overlap more), but they will always diverge in part. Local journalism derives its value as a public good primarily through the trust and impact it earns from engaged, loyal audiences."
"Audiences, meanwhile, can reward journalism in two ways: with their sustained attention and with their financial support - both of which are primarily motivated not by altruism but by self-interest ((People say they appreciate journalism's public-good qualities - and, of course, many do open their wallets for that reason - but research suggests more people tend to show their appreciation for the tangible benefits they receive as news consumers: access to useful information, a clean and inviting user experience,"
Local journalism faces long-term structural decline even as philanthropic and community efforts aim to rebuild capacity. Value from journalism takes two forms: public-good benefits that support democracy and consumer benefits that provide tangible personal rewards. These forms can overlap but will often diverge. Public-good impact depends on trust earned from engaged, loyal audiences. Audiences reciprocate through sustained attention and financial support, primarily driven by self-interest in receiving useful information, a pleasant experience, community membership, and enjoyable diversion. Prioritizing audience service is therefore essential to sustaining local journalism, not merely a business cost.
Read at Nieman Lab
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