The decline in local journalism is having an insidious impact on democracy: diminished government accountability, reduced access to accurate information, and a decline in public trust. In this Nieman Reports piece, I explain how I've watched it play out in Tallahassee -- and how it's not unique to Florida.

Local newspapers have steadily gone out of business throughout the digital age. For this edition of NPR's On Point, John Thornton, co-founder of the American Journalism Project and a founder of the Texas Tribune, Mi-Ai Parrish, former president and publisher of The Arizona Republic and The Kansas City Star and I discuss the fate of local journalism and what can be done to save it.

The Miami Herald's parent company was purchased by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management. The Washington Post asked what it means to the newsroom. I shared our observations here.

The Index on Censorship spring 2020 podcast features a discussion with Miami Herald journalist Mary Ellen Klas talking about being denied access to a press briefing in Florida on coronavirus and how reporting in the country under Trump has become even more difficult in the crisis, Moa Petersén, senior lecturer at Lund University, discusses the Swedish microchipping phenomenon, while the journalist Noelle Mateer speaks about living in China as everyone around her embraced surveillance cameras.

In 1798 James Madison wrote of the press: “To the press alone, checkered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.” In 2020, if Madison was correct then reason and humanity could be in for an even rougher ride, with hometown newspapers collapsing across the country. The Village Square tackled this subject with a panel of local journalists and I was pleased to participate. Link here for audio of the evening.

The decline of the business model for local newspapers has forced the exploration of other models. Harvard's Nicco Mele takes a look at the practical options for non-profit journalism in his smart paper here. I had the privilege of studying with Nicco while at Harvard and offered him feedback from my perspective working in the trenches.

Tributes to local journalism were a big part of the evening as thewrapped up its annual convention in Baltimore Saturday night."The power of local journalism is what I'm most concerned about, and have been most inspired about tonight," said Chuck Todd, host of's "Meet the Press," who was honored as an SPJ Fellow, the society's highest honor.SPJ Sunshine Awards went to Mary Ellen Klas of thefor 30 years of reporting about the influence of money in Florida politics and Rachel LaCorte offor reporti