504220669_1281396720652557_1827602405843456877_n (1).jpg

The Vanishing Local Newsroom: Why PR Professionals Are More Vital Than Ever

Local journalists have long served as the watchdogs and storytellers of our communities, covering city councils, school boards, public health, housing, crime and countless other civic issues. But a stunning new report highlights just how rapidly that critical presence is disappearing.

According to the 2025 Local Journalist Index, a joint report from Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News, the United States now has only 8.2 “Local Journalist Equivalents” (LJEs) per 100,000 people, down a staggering 75% from 2002 on average.

While this national trend is alarming, the picture in Texas is even more troubling. The state ranks 44th in the country with just 5.9 LJEs per 100,000 people. In Harris County, the third most populous county in the United States, the number drops to fewer than four reporters per 100,000 residents. That’s less than half the national average.

Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 4.34.49%E2%80%AFPM.png

Newsrooms in Houston

The effects are already being felt. So far in 2025, Houston Landing, a nonprofit newsroom launched in 2023 with millions in philanthropic support, shut down, cutting dozens of local reporting jobs. In addition, CityCast Houston, which debuted in 2021, said farewell in October. Houston Public Media, another key provider of news and cultural programming, was also impacted by recent federal funding cuts, having to lay off 9 staff members laid off overnight. We've seen layoffs or mass exoduses across broadcast this year too, including KHOU, I Heart Media and Audacy - not to mention the layoffs that hit nearly every local TV newsroom in 2024.

Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 4.35.03%E2%80%AFPM.png

Why you should care

  • These losses matter deeply because local news is a cornerstone of civic accountability. Numerous studies have shown that the erosion of local journalism is linked to increased government corruption, lower voter turnout and diminished public trust. When reporters aren’t in the room to attend public meetings, ask tough questions or tell the stories that affect everyday people, those issues often go unreported and unheard.

In this increasingly fragile media landscape, the role of public relations professionals has never been more important. Fewer journalists mean smaller newsrooms with reduced capacity to cover the stories that shape our communities. At Like Minds Communications, we help our clients navigate this new reality by:

  • Building meaningful relationships with local reporters and editors. In a shrinking media ecosystem, trust and access matter more than ever.

  • Crafting clear, newsworthy messaging that respects journalists’ time and limited resources, making it easier for them to cover stories that matter.

  • Supporting transparency and civic engagement through ensuring accurate, timely information reaches the public, whether that’s via traditional media, owned content channels or community partnerships.

Public relations is no longer just about brand visibility. In an era where communities are losing trusted news sources, PR has a responsibility to support the flow of credible, essential information. As local newsrooms continue to face challenges, PR professionals have a unique opportunity to work alongside reporters to ensure that important stories still reach the people who need them.

As you can imagine, with each outlet shuttering, losing funding or shedding staff, our hearts break. As a Houston-based PR agency, we believe in the power of media to tell stories that matter and admire their tireless work on behalf of our communities.

Support your local media. They need us now more than ever.