Jul 25, 2025 - News
Mapped: The loss of local journos
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New Muck Rack data illustrates the vast news deserts across the country that may expand following the loss of public broadcasting funds.
By the numbers: The U.S. now has 8.2 "local journalist equivalents" for every 100,000 people, down 75% from 2002 on average.
- About two-thirds of U.S. counties are below that average.
Zoom in: Despite having several news outlets, Wayne County is well below average (3.8) due in part to its large population of nearly 1.8 million.
Go deeper: How many journalists cover your town