Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Digital News Report 2025. Episode 6: How people navigate local news and information
Jul 16, 2025
Richard Fletcher, Director of Research at the Reuters Institute and co-author of the Digital News Report, dives deep into the landscape of local news. He discusses why local journalism matters, especially against the backdrop of declining engagement. Fletcher reveals the types of local information that people seek, from events to politics, and highlights surprising global similarities and differences in access. He assesses the competition between platforms and local media, offering insights on how publishers can adapt to evolving audience needs.
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Local News Embodies Core Journalism Value
- Local news often embodies the best of what journalism can be when done well.
- People value local reporting on crime, accidents and community events above many other local information types.
What People Actually Access Locally
- Surveys show local news stories are the most accessed local information on average.
- Other common types include local events, services, politics, sports and notices like births or deaths.
High Universal Reach With National Differences
- About 80% of people access at least one type of local information weekly, with Nordic countries nearer 90%.
- The rank order of which local topics people access is similar across many countries despite different overall levels.