Local News Matters

While national headlines thunder and press freedoms face growing pressure, local news keeps showing up. Reporters are still covering school board votes, spotlighting nonprofits, explaining zoning decisions, and holding the mic for everyday voices.

Local news keeps us informed and engaged in the places we live. In a time of rising censorship, corporate consolidation, and misinformation, that work has never been more vital or more at risk.

Strengthening Democracy Close to Home

The Virginia Local News Project equips outlets across the Commonwealth with tools, training, and support to grow and adapt in a digital-first world. That means defending press freedom and helping hometown publications stay relevant to readers and advertisers alike.

One standout example is the Alexandria Times.

As the city’s only locally owned newspaper, the Times has always been rooted in its community. This fall it took that commitment even further by converting to a nonprofit, officially becoming a 501(c)(3) under Alexandria Community Media. The shift puts community service at the center of its business model, aligning ownership with mission and ensuring that resources flow back into local journalism.

The Times continues to deliver award-winning coverage, with staff earning 12 Virginia Press Association awards in 2024, including four first-place honors. Reporters cover city council meetings, small businesses, community events, and human-interest stories that keep Alexandria connected.

Meanwhile, in Richmond, The Richmonder demonstrates the impact of nonprofit storytelling. Recent coverage has traced the ripple effects of federal funding cuts on community organizations and profiled leaders like Jacob’s Chance founder Kate Mardigian. Stories like these show how local news invests in community voices and why it deserves our investment in return.

Building Media Relationships

Your nonprofit has stories worth telling. Here are a few ways to connect with the journalists who can help share them.

Find Your Reporters
Start with the Virginia Press Association’s member directory, browse local TV station sites, and follow community reporters on social media to see what they’re tracking.

Make the Connection
Send a brief introduction with your mission and recent wins. Offer yourself as a source and share story ideas beyond standard press releases. Even if a reporter can’t attend your event, the invitation puts your organization on their radar.

Pitch with Purpose
Journalists look for local impact, human stories behind the numbers, solutions to community challenges, and timely connections to current events. Think of the relationship as a partnership, not a transaction.

How to Support Local News

  • Subscribe to your local paper in print or digital
  • Share stories on your social channels
  • Pitch good news about nonprofits and community voices
  • Attend events hosted by news outlets
  • Follow local journalists and publications
  • Talk to your networks about why coverage matters
  • Teach kids and teens how to spot trustworthy sources

And while you’re at it… make sure information is accessible to everyone. Blue Octopus recently pledged to be an Information Access Champion, committing to share information in ways that include and reflect the disability community.