by Micjhael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian
07-22-25
Image by Sandra Hak from Pixabay
A website called https://www.usnewsdeserts.com/ run by the Hussman School of Journalism and Media university research project keeps track of counties in the US that do not have a traditional printed newspaper or a digital alternative.
The site claims that with newspapers vanishing in many areas of the country, there are no local reporters to report on local news or to investigate local government bodies serving as a public watchdog for corruption.
Many local news publications have seen local ad support dwindle as many local advertisers are spending their ad dollars on highly targeted social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Additionally, many of these platforms offer an organic approach to advertising complete with video tools, music clips and special effects for businesses to get creative on their free organic marketing efforts.
Additionally some traditional printed newspapers lament that younger readers in their 20’s and 30’s and even 40’s do not subscribe or buy printed newspapers.
Near Uvalde County there are a few nearby counties listed as news deserts including Real County, Maverick County and Kinney Counties. However, Maverick and Kinney Counties actually do have newspapers.
Is there actually such a phenomenon as a News Desert where local citizens are left in the dark on local news or is something else happening? Perhaps people are getting their news some other way?
Real County: Formerly served by the Leakey Star
The Uvalde Hesperian spoke with the current Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce President Glen Ivy, who was once the publisher of the Leakey Star.
When asked how Real County residents get their local news, he said there is an app called Livin’ Local used to publicize events, activities and town meetings.
Also, The town has several local Facebook groups that share local news. Ivy did say that the nearby Canyon Broadcaster published out of Camp Wood has a circulation in Leakey.
The former publisher asked himself this question in terms of news reporting: What information does the local public not have easy access to?
Ivy recalls a time where local arrest reports were logged in a physical book at the local government office and he would go to the office and to copy the information down for the newspaper.
Ivy also stated the struggle to find consistent local ad support was difficult.
With more local Facebook groups and schools and government offices utilizing their own respective Facebook pages and some offering live-stream videos from public meetings, there is far more news available with a quick Google or AI assisted search.
Traditional news industry insiders criticize the emergence of the Brave New World of news discrimination as lacking professional journalists and news reporters with media credentials to dig deeper in the news below the surface and directly question public officials.
They also cite the danger of news not being professionally fact-checked and verified for accuracy.
Citizen reporting via social media does have its limitations but it a far cry from community being a “news desert”
Capitalism and the ability for prospective entrepreneurs to fill market demands applies to news companies as well. The market has a way of quickly disrupting traditional business models including newspapers.
In order for news and journalism to be a viable career option, the traditional media must innovate and adapt to finding new funding alternatives other than solely relying on ad support. Also, news reporters will have to work harder finding new unreported stories and angles of stories of interest to readers and adapt to a multi-media landscape.
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