In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, a new crop of hyperlocal news outlets have emerged that are characterized by a strong ideological--and, some contend, explicitly partisan--editorial bent. In some cases, these organizations have overt financial ties to political organizations; in others, the ownership structures are murkier. How do we define and understand these sites in relation to the local news industry? How are they distinct from more “traditional” local news outlets with a strong ideological bent? How can they be understood in the long history of partisan media? As the advertising-based business model for local news collapses, what will be the role of partisan media outlets moving forward and where are we headed?
Moderator:
Emily Bell, Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism
Panelists:
Lindsay Schrupp, Editor-in-Chief, Courier Newsroom
Michael Schudson, Professor of Journalism, Columbia Journalism School
Sue Cross, Institute for Nonprofit News
