A new study from University of Pennsylvania researchers explores the role of nonprofit journalism in addressing the nationwide crisis of closing local newsrooms, identifying two distinct approaches to its future.
The research highlights two competing visions for nonprofit news organizations in Pennsylvania: one focused on simply restoring the coverage lost due to the decline of traditional media, and another aiming to establish an entirely new model distinct from for-profit journalism.
Researcher Victor Pickard emphasized the critical need for reforms. He said, "towards building new journalistic models that are more resilient and more democratically accountable to local communities." This suggests a move beyond mere replacement to a more fundamental restructuring of local news delivery.