Trust in local journalism
Eighty-five percent of Pennsylvania registered voters say they have the most trust in local newspapers, print and online; that level of trust surpasses other news media outlets. The 2022 survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Virginia, for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association provides additional good news about public notice in print newspapers, government transparency, and the essential role local journalism plays in the health of communities across the commonwealth.
Pennsylvania voters: Local, local, local
A 2022 survey of registered Pennsylvania voters conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in Alexandria, Virginia, for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association mined valuable information about the importance of local journalism to residents and their communities across the commonwealth:
- 85% said they have the most trust in local newspapers, print and online. That level of trust surpasses other news media outlets.
- 87% said local newspapers are key to an informed community because they cover local issues such as business, politics and public safety. This is the kind of news readers cannot get anywhere else.
- 87% said local newspapers help keep people connected to their communities.
- 92% favored state law requiring public notices to be published in print editions of local newspapers to alert citizens about important local issues – like zoning changes, school closures, and environmental proposals that impact health and property – before government takes action.
- 92% favored expanding the Right-to-Know Law, which provides citizens access to public records held by government agencies.
The “PA NewsMedia Association Benchmark’’ survey of Pennsylvania registered voters was conducted Aug. 24-28, 2022. For additional information about the survey, contact PNA Legislative Director Barbara Hough Huesken at barbarah@pa-news.org.
Economic impact
Local newspapers are key not only to reporting the news and information people want and need, but they are also essential to the economic health of the Pennsylvania communities they serve. Newspapers are employers. They are taxpayers. They are local philanthropists and volunteers. Consider:
- The economic impact of the newspaper industry on Pennsylvania in 2020 was $1.3 billion, which included $528.8 million in labor income.
- The state and local tax impact of the newspaper industry in Pennsylvania was $51.8 million.
- The Pennsylvania newspaper industry supported and sustained 9,862 jobs.
- It is estimated that Pennsylvania newspaper employees give nearly $3.9 million annually in charitable donations and volunteer more than 100,000 hours, which is valued at $2.5 million. The combined community stewardship of $6.4 million was in addition to the $1.3 billion economic impact.
The full report, “Pennsylvania’s Newspaper Industry Makes a Significant Impact” produced for PNA by Parker Philips Inc. of Erie, Pennsylvania, in June 2021, is available.