With the 2024 election day rapidly approaching, coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ and Former President Donald Trump’s campaigns are dominating media. While the presidential election is extremely important, the Senate, House of Representatives and local elections will also appear on the ballot on Nov. 5.
Americans must be attentive to the policies and campaigns for the 2024 presidential election, but state representative and local elections are arguably more significant. State policy is much more impactful to our everyday lives, and we need to direct our attention to these local elections as Nov. 5 approaches.
The public’s diverted attention is largely attributed to the fact that over half of U.S. counties have little to no access to local news, making them “news deserts” according to Northwestern MEDILL. From 2005 to 2023, the number of newspaper journalists in the country decreased by two-thirds. Just this past year, there were more than 130 newspaper closings or mergers.
With this large hole in news outlets, many colleges are closing the gaps in covering local news. These sources are beneficial ways to stay informed on local issues. However, we must extend our reading beyond college newspapers and support local news outlets that focus on local issues.
In order to help keep local news sites alive, some private organizations are providing subsidies. The MacArthur Foundation and the Knight Foundation are two examples of organizations that have raised millions of dollars to help curb this trend in local news, but it is not enough; other organizations must follow in their footsteps.
The University of Chicago Press Journals wrote that “citizens exposed to a lower volume of coverage are less able to evaluate their member of Congress, less likely to express opinions about the House candidates in their districts and less likely to vote.” It is important that we expose ourselves to this local coverage, and promote positive civic engagement in our states as a result.
Ultimately, state elected officials will be the ones drafting and passing legislation that will directly impact most areas of everyday life. It is alarming that conversations about the Maryland ballot initiative for reproductive rights is barely receiving any attention while Harris’ and Trump’s policies about abortion rights are constantly a topic of conversation.
With very little time until Americans will cast their votes, what can be done to rectify this lack of attention to state and local elections? In truth, the responsibility lies with readers.
We urge you to take time to research local candidates, balance your consumption of national news and state news and be mindful about the policies and issues that could affect your lives in the coming years.
– The Lion’s Tale
