When people talk about how they don't trust the media anymore or that journalists are all partisan hacks, chances are they are referring to mainstream or national media outlets, not your standard local newspaper or TV station.
Local papers and TV stations escape much of the scrutiny levelled at the national media, and it's not surprising why. Comparatively, local media is more focused on covering stories in their communities (AKA doing their jobs) as opposed to virtue signaling or feigning outrage on national cable programs or editorial columns.
Local journalism can be in many forms: newspapers, web-based media, TV, radio and even podcasts.
Local journalism plays an important role in providing information and news about the communities they serve. Here are some of the benefits of local journalism:
Keeping citizens informed: Local journalism keeps citizens informed about what is happening in their communities. It covers local events, issues, and developments that are often not covered by national news outlets.
Fostering a sense of community: Local journalism brings people together by highlighting local events, celebrations, and initiatives. It helps create a sense of community by providing a platform for people to connect with one another.
Holding local officials accountable: Local journalists act as watchdogs, investigating and reporting on the actions of local officials and institutions. They help to ensure that public officials are accountable to the citizens they serve.
Providing a platform for ignored voices: Local journalism provides a platform for diverse voices to be heard. It covers stories that are relevant to local communities, including those that may be overlooked by national media.
Boosting the local economy: Local journalism can help boost the local economy by promoting local businesses and events. It can also provide information about job openings, new businesses, and other economic developments.
Although many local newspapers in the U.S. have shut their doors over the past decade due to the popular shift to web-based delivery of news, local outlets still play a major role in the day-to-day lives of people living in communities all across Virginia.
Here are the top 5 local newspapers in Virginia, ranked by circulation according to Agility PR Solutions.
1. The Virginian-Pilot: Covers Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and surrounding areas.
2. Richmond Times-Dispatch: Covers the greater Richmond area, the capital of Virginia.
3. The Roanoke Times: Covers Roanoke, Sales, Blacksburg and surrounding areas in the Blue Ridge/Shenandoah region.
4. The Daily Press: Covers Newport News, Hampton Roads and surrounding coastal areas.
5. Bristol Herald-Courier: Covers news in the Bristol area, a unique city in Southwest Virginia that partially extends into Tennessee.
Virginia, being a state bordering Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, has much more than local outlets within its borders. Several national and industry outlets have set up shop in Virginia as well. Here are the top 5, ranked in descending order of unique visitors per month (source: MuckRack and Meltwater):
1. USA Today: National news outlet, headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
2. Washington Business Journal: An industry publication covering business and property news in Washington, D.C. The outlet is based in Arlington, Virginia.
3. Defense News: The military news publication is based in Vienna, Virginia.
4. Military Times: A sister publication of Defense News, this outlet is also based in Vienna, Virginia.
5. Washington Free Beacon: The conversative political news outlet is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Although the Washington Free Beacon is based in Virginia, as a political news outlet, it covers stories all over the country, including the
story shown here from California.
Analyzing local media is an essential part of an organization's intelligence and public relations strategy. Contact us today or request a free trial to see how Consul Media Intelligence can help your business leverage the local, national and international media to grow, expand and generate more revenue.