Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lori Henson

@lorihenson.bsky.social

280 followers 820 following 12 posts

Public policy + local news @ Rebuild Local News. http://rebuildlocalnews.org Wholesome Midwestern gal, Terre Hautean, Quaker.

rebuildlocalnews.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Nov 11

Here for thoughtful posts about #journalism and doggos. Waging public policy solutions to the local news crisis at rebuildlocalnews.org

Rebuild Local News

The Rebuild Local News coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances public policies to counter the collapse of local news and revitalize community journalism.

rebuildlocalnews.org

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Aug 20

Broadcast alerts are critical -- you're absolutely right! But some digitals are experimenting with SMS messaging directly with their audiences. Could be a way to preserve that emergency function, perhaps... localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...

Text all about it

Outlier Media’s news beats, the stories it reports and the way it delivers and receives news and information all rise from listening to the audience it aims to serve: residents of the City of Detroit.

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu

1 1

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Aug 20

"What if the best way to help the media is not with carefully sculpted grants provided to worthy programs by a panel of wise people, but rather big, messy, blunt-instrument policies that push far more dollars into the system [and] lift all boats...?"

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Aug 20

After the demise of CPB, Rebuild Local News Founder @stevenwaldman.bsky.social says the industry has an opportunity to build more creative models for public support.

Read more at @columjournreview.bsky.social: www.cjr.org/analysis/wha...

What Will the Next Era of Public Media Look Like?

After the demise of CPB, the industry has an opportunity to build more creative models for public support.

www.cjr.org

1 1 4

Reposted by Lori Henson

John R. Platt @johnrplatt.bsky.social · Jul 10

Local Journalist Index 2025

"...mapped how many local journalists cover each U.S. county, revealing in stark detail the stunning collapse in local reporting."

Powerful and worrying.
muckrack.com/research/loc...

Local Journalist Index 2025 | Muck Rack

Where are the journalists? For the first time, we’ve mapped how many local journalists cover each U.S. county, revealing in stark detail the stunning coll…

muckrack.com

2 1

Reposted by Lori Henson

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Jul 10

Have you explored the Local Journalist Index yet? Rebuild Local News President @stevenwaldman.bsky.social shares how its data on the journalist shortage can help entrepreneurs, funders and policymakers take targeted action to support local news.

Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/severe-and-w...

1 6

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Jul 10

www.niemanlab.org/2025/07/new-...

New report maps a “severe” shortage of local journalists in the U.S.

The report from Rebuild Local News and Muck Rack finds that more than 1,000 counties — one out of three in the nation — do not have the equivalent of even one full-time local journalist.

www.niemanlab.org

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Jul 10

Coverage of the study we released today...
www.cnn.com/2025/07/10/m...

There’s a ‘severe shortage’ of local news across the US, new report reveals | CNN Business

Since the start of the century, the number of journalists working in the United States has declined by more than 75 percent, according to the study.

www.cnn.com

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Jul 10

This is a really important project by @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social and @muckrack.com showing the decline in the number of journalists across the U.S., down to the county level. Really shocking numbers that should spur communities and lawmakers to action.

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Jul 10

The Local Journalist Index is live: A first-of-its-kind report from @muckrack.com and Rebuild Local News reveals a more widespread, severe shortage of local journalists across the U.S. than previously understood.

Read the report: localjournalistindex.com

2 2

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Jun 2

Very excited to welcome Irma Fernandez to our Rebuild Local News team! It feels good to be growing with so many talented people coming onboard!

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Jun 2

Meet Irma Fernandez, our new Director of Development! She’s raised major support at The AP and The Texas Tribune, and now she’s bringing that passion to our mission to revitalize community journalism.

Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/team/irma-fe...

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Apr 25

So excited to welcome Susan to our team! Another Midwesterner working to Rebuild Local News! #Iowa #Indiana

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Apr 25

Say hello to our Director of Campaigns & Partnerships! With her leadership experience at the Iowa Newspaper Association and Gannett, Susan will help form broad coalitions and advance First-Amendment-friendly laws to strengthen local news.

Read more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/team/susan-p...

Staff: Susan Patterson Plank

Susan Patterson Plank is Director of Campaigns and Partnerships. Previously, Susan was the Executive Director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, where she led numerous public policy efforts.

www.rebuildlocalnews.org

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Apr 25

It's been a pleasure working with @mattdpearce.com on local news policy issues and I'm grateful we get to keep him!

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Apr 25

Say hello to our new Director of Policy! Formerly our Senior Policy Advisor and President of the Media Guild of the West, Matt will help shape policies that support local news, grow the number of reporters, and protect editorial independence.

Read more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/team/matt-pe...

Staff: Matt Pearce

Matt Pearce is Director of Policy for Rebuild Local News. For several years, he was president and co-founder of the Media Guild of the West, one of the fastest-growing unions of The NewsGuild-CWA, rep...

www.rebuildlocalnews.org

1 1 18

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Apr 25

So excited to have Susan and @mattdpearce.com join our team! Rebuild Local News is growing fast, and I'm grateful to have these two amazing people helping lead us. @matt

Rebuild Local News @rebuildlocalnews.bsky.social · Apr 25

Big news: We're thrilled to welcome industry powerhouses Susan Patterson Plank and @mattdpearce.com to our senior team. They’ll help turn growing momentum for local news legislation into meaningful support for newsrooms, communities nationwide.

Learn more: www.rebuildlocalnews.org/rebuild-loca...

1 2

Reposted by Lori Henson

CNN @cnn.com · Nov 18

Young American adults are increasingly getting their news from social media influencers, a majority of whom are men and lean to the right, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

Nearly 40% of young Americans get their news from influencers. Many of them lean to the right, study finds | CNN Business

Young American adults are increasingly getting their news from social media influencers, a majority of whom are men and lean to the right, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

www.cnn.com

250 380 1.6K

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Nov 14

📌

Reposted by Lori Henson

Brent Terhune @brentterhune.bsky.social · Nov 12

I’ve decided to take a break from mental health to focus on social media.

22 110 680

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Nov 11

Here for thoughtful posts about #journalism and doggos. Waging public policy solutions to the local news crisis at rebuildlocalnews.org

Rebuild Local News

The Rebuild Local News coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances public policies to counter the collapse of local news and revitalize community journalism.

rebuildlocalnews.org

Reposted by Lori Henson

The Media and Democracy Project @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social · Aug 18

We couldn't agree more.

There are alternatives:
Rebuild Local News (which we are a member of)
www.rebuildlocalnews.org

Local News Dollars
democracypolicy.network/agenda/stron...

Rebuild Local News

The Rebuild Local News coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances public policies to counter the collapse of local news and revitalize community journalism.

www.rebuildlocalnews.org

2 4

Lori Henson @lorihenson.bsky.social · Nov 11

Public policy is a key part of sustaining and growing local news coverage. Dozens of states and cities are pursuing policies.

American Journalism Project @theajp.bsky.social · Oct 6

From philanthropic support, to sustainable business models, to promising new community-driven news organizations gaining recognition — the movement to rebuild local news is underway, and there are many ways for supporters to join in. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | The rebirth of local news depends on all of us

Contrary to the assumption that local news is dying, a host of initiatives are creating a new model.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Lori Henson

News Literacy Project @newslit.org · Jan 23

🚨 Watch LIVE now on YouTube: bit.ly/LivestreamJa...

Moderated by Tracie Potts, panelists @sulliview.bsky.social, Steven Waldman of Rebuild Local News, Kimi Yoshino of the Baltimore Banner & Sarabeth Berman of the @theajp.bsky.social discuss the state of local news.

#NewsLiteracyWeek

Graphic with head shots of the people taking part in NLP's events EXTRA! EXTRA! How to solve the LOCAL NEWS CRISIS
Sarabeth Berman, American Journalism Project
Margaret Sullivan, author of "Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy"
Steven Waldman, Rebuild Local News
Kimi Yoshino, editor of the Baltimore Banner
Moderator Tracie Potts

2 2