Why Supporting Local News Is as Essential as Shopping Local

Posted January 15, 2025
Man reads the digital version of the Gazette Newspaper.

Local journalism is the cornerstone of informed, connected, and thriving communities. Publications like The Gazette play a critical role in Eastern Iowa, ensuring that the stories shaping our region are told with care, accuracy, and depth. Supporting local news is as essential as shopping local—it’s an investment in the people, businesses, and values that define our community. 

 

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and growth, The Gazette recently announced a change in its print schedule, moving to three print days per week while maintaining seven-day digital coverage. While this change reflects the realities of modern media consumption, it’s also a testament to the publication’s priority to retain all journalists on the payroll and remain a trusted resource for the region. 

 

Here’s why this change matters—and why it’s a step forward for local journalism and Eastern Iowa’s future. Over the years, The Gazette has experienced notable growth in Johnson County, where readership has risen 16 percent in the past year and a half.  This growth reflects The Gazette’s ability to serve as more than just a Cedar Rapids paper—it’s now a greater Iowa City area-regarded paper, Johnson County’s newspaper of record, and Eastern Iowa’s go-to source for local news. 

 

This growing readership in communities like Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty underscores the value of The Gazette’s in-depth reporting and its ability to address the unique needs of diverse audiences. Whether covering local government, education, business, or cultural events, The Gazette consistently delivers the stories that matter most to our lives. 

 

Why This Change Is Good for Our Community 

 

The move to a three-day print schedule allows The Gazette to focus resources on delivering high-quality journalism across all platforms. By prioritizing sustainability, the publication ensures it can continue to serve as a reliable source of news for years to come. 

 

Local journalism doesn’t just inform—it strengthens our communities. Studies show that areas with strong local media have higher civic engagement, less polarization, and reduced corruption. Publications like The Gazette ensure transparency in local government, celebrate community achievements, and shine a light on issues that demand attention. 

 

In a time when many media outlets are owned by national conglomerates, The Gazette’s employee-owned model ensures that decisions are made with the community’s best interests in mind. Supporting local journalism is an investment in our shared future—one that keeps resources, stories, and opportunities rooted in Eastern Iowa. 

 

In today’s media landscape, consolidation and misinformation threaten the quality and integrity of the news. Locally owned outlets like The Gazette, the Corridor Business Journal, Little Village, and The Solon Economist are exceptions, prioritizing accuracy, depth, and community focus over national profit-driven models that prioritize national trends over local nuance. Studies* show that communities with strong local media experience higher voter turnout, reduced misinformation, and greater civic engagement. These benefits extend far beyond the newsroom—they strengthen the very fabric of our society.   

 

Greater Iowa City knows that local journalism matters, which is why we’re proud to partner with The Gazette and Corridor Business Journal to offer subscriptions to our investors—ensuring they stay informed about what’s happening in our community.

 

This kind of journalism doesn’t come free. Producing high-quality, well-researched stories requires time, talent, and resources. Subscriptions and advertising revenue are what keep the lights on and the presses running for all of our local papers and sources. Without community support, these vital institutions cannot survive. We encourage you to evaluate your subscriptions and prioritize locally owned journalism—publications that enhance civil discourse, keep our community informed, and sustainably employ our friends and neighbors in this vital workforce.

 

*Sources: 

“The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy” (PEN America, 2019) 

“Local Media and Political Participation in the United States” (J. Zaller, 2009) 

“Do Newspapers Matter? Short-Run and Long-Run Evidence from the Closure of The Cincinnati Post” (Gentzkow, Shapiro, and Sinkinson, 2011) 

“How Strong Local News Makes Communities Stronger” (Knight Foundation, 2019) 

“Losing the News: The Future of the News that Feeds Democracy” (Alex S. Jones, 2009) 

“Local News and Political Accountability” (Matthew Gentzkow, Jesse M. Shapiro, Michael Sinkinson, 2014) 

“The Expanding News Desert” (UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, 2018) 

“Local Newspapers, Facebook, and the Costs of Partisanship” (Gao, Lee, and Murphy, 2021) 

“The Role of Media in Increasing Voter Turnout: Experimental Evidence from the U.S.” (Gerber, Karlan, and Bergan, 2009)