Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism – Local News Initiative

Economy Trey Kay +,

Us & Them Encore: W.Va.'s News Deserts — With No Government Watchdog Civic Engagement Plummets

Every week, more than two newspapers close in the United States, leaving whole communities without local coverage. On this encore Us & Them, Trey Kay visits West Virginia communities trying to hold onto local journalism — from the long-running Hurricane Breeze in Putnam County to The Real WV, a relatively new digital news outlet with roots in Greenbrier County. What happens to a place when the news that helps a community see itself begins to disappear?

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Economy Trey Kay +,

Us & Them: West Virginia’s News Deserts — With No Government Watchdog Civic Engagement Plummets

Every week, more than two newspapers close in the United States, leaving whole communities without local coverage. In West Virginia, 43 of 55 counties have just one news source — or none at all. In the next Us & Them, Trey Kay visits communities on the verge of becoming news deserts to see how they’re fighting to keep their stories alive, from the long-standing Hurricane Breeze to a new startup in Greenbrier County.

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