Medill report finds local newspaper closures accelerating sharply in 2026
Local papers are shutting down at a rate of over three per week, with news deserts also growing fast. The report says the damage is widespread and likely to be long-lasting.
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What happened
Newspapers are closing at a pace of more than three a week, and 2026 was an especially severe year for the trend. Both the rate of shutdowns and the number of new news deserts rose sharply. Medill's annual State of Local News Report describes the decline as a full-blown event that has hit local news widely.
Why it matters
The report says the damage is widespread and will leave long-lasting displacement in local news.
Coverage
- From bad to worse: 2026 is shaping up to be “a Super El Niño year for local news” (niemanlab.org)
- Local newspaper closures have surged to more than three a week (poynter.org)
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