EOTO - News Deserts

 News deserts are geographical areas with little to no local and comprehensive news. These areas lack daily or weekly newspapers. These areas exists because newspaper companies in the US are disappearing at a steady rate. 

Newspaper companies are being bought out and run by hedge funds and private equity funds. These owners are using aggressive cost-cutting tactics. These strategies are decreasing the quality and quantity of local newspapers. 

There are many negative effects that follow these news deserts. There is a strong correlation between news deserts and populations below the poverty line. Since companies are producing less quality and quantity newspapers, less people want to subscribe to a newspaper or buy one. While some of these newspaper companies do go digital, not everyone has access to the digital news. Impoverished people and areas do not have unlimited or reliable internet access. 

This means that people in these news deserts are going without correct and current information. Every citizen of the United States has a right and duty to make informed decisions. While local newspapers are disappearing, voting numbers have been decreasing in those impoverished areas. When citizens aren't informed of news, it is easier for corruption in businesses and the government. It is easier for misinformation to spread, especially on social media where information could be false and biased.

Without local newspapers we loose the idea of grass-root democracy. This is the idea of decentralizing the power of the government and giving power back to the people. But people cannot have the power to make decisions when they are uninformed. 

At this rate, two newspaper companies a week disappear. It is a supply and demand issue, less people are using newspapers because there are less being produced. This results in entire geographical areas without local and comprehensive news. 

While many feel this issue does not impact them, it does, even if you have access to a local newspaper, the internet, or any other local and comprehensive news. When we have a large population of the United States that is uninformed and unaware of political, health, and local news, we lose an entire demographic of voters.

There is hope however! Many philanthropists, journalists, and activists are bringing attention to this problem through speeches and articles.