Jul 24, 2025 - News
Here's how many journalists cover San Francisco
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Vast news deserts across the country may expand following the loss of public broadcasting funds.
How it works: The findings are based on Muck Rack's data about journalists and media outlets nationwide as of Q1 2025, used to show reporters "most likely covering local communities."
By the numbers: The U.S. now averages 8.2 "local journalist equivalents" for every 100,000 people, down 75% from 2002.
- About two-thirds of U.S. counties are below that average.
- The metric is similar to "full-time equivalent," which accounts for part-time employees when measuring the size of a workforce.
Zoom in: San Francisco County is above average at 25.7, with about 207 "local journalist equivalents" overall.