The Battle to Save Local News | GBH Media Summit 2025

Local "news deserts" are growing exponentially across America–and the absence of fact-based local news and information providers is directly contributing to the rise of misinformation and information manipulation. The end result? Where local news is weaker, polarization is deeper. Philanthropic investment in local journalism is fueling efforts to build better-informed communities, enhance trust, and strengthen democracy. From the American Journalism Project to Press Forward, independent, non-partisan news organizations are helping to fill the void in local news. We will examine the impact in this GBH Media Summit panel discussion.

Introduction:
Katerina Eva Matsa, Director, News and Information Research, Pew Research Center

Moderator:
Jim Brady, Vice President of Journalism, Knight Foundation

Presenters:
Dale Anglin, Director, Press Forward
Andrea Bruce, Photographer & Educator
Sarabeth Berman, Chief Executive Officer, American Journalism Project
Stephen Engelberg, Editor In Chief, ProPublica

Learn more about the GBH Media Summit here: https://www.wgbh.org/collections/gbh-...

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