States with less local news have higher rates of loneliness

Short summary

A 2026 report shows that U.S. states with fewer local journalists experience higher loneliness rates, underscoring the social infrastructure value of local news. Local journalist headcount has fallen consistently for 25 years, continuing last year. The research highlights media decline's correlation with community isolation.

• •States with less local news coverage report higher loneliness rates
• •Local journalist count has declined for 25+ years and continued falling in 2025
• •Findings underscore news media's role in community cohesion

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