COVID-19 Has Ravaged American Newsrooms – Here’s Why that Matters

Radcliffe, Damian

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3693903

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COVID-19 Has Ravaged American Newsrooms – Here’s Why that Matters

4 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2020

See all articles by Damian Radcliffe

Damian Radcliffe

University of Oregon, School of Journalism and Communication; Cardiff University, School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies; The Tow Center for Digital Journalism part of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University

Date Written: July 20, 2020

Abstract

COVID-19 has ripped through the industry. In the United States alone, over 36,000 journalists have lost their jobs, been furloughed or had their pay cut. The trendlines for this, however, pre-date the pandemic. This article examines the causes of the long-term decline seen by local newspapers, the impact of this on communities and democratic engagement, and looks ahead at some potential solutions and policy discussions aimed at resolving this crisis.

Keywords: journalism, media, newspapers, community, local news, democratic deficit, journalists, COVID-19, coronavirus, economic impact, information needs, information deficit, news deserts

JEL Classification: A00, A10, H00, H10, H11, H12, H20, H50, H70, l31, l39, L10, l50, L86, L88, L82, Z18, Z19, Z10

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Radcliffe, Damian, COVID-19 Has Ravaged American Newsrooms – Here’s Why that Matters (July 20, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3693903 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3693903