Sink, Swim or Soar: Surviving arid local news environments in Germany and the U.S.

Karin Assmann and Rick, J., “Sink, Swim or Soar: Surviving arid local news environments in Germany and the U.S.,” paper to be presented at the Future of Journalism Conference in Cardiff, Wales in September 2025.

Abstract: Wüstenradar, a recent study about the state of local media in Germany confirmed the ongoing desertification of its news landscape and the consequences for civic life and democracy (Wellbrock & Maaß, 2024) visualizing the gaps in local news coverage as have researchers in the U.S. (Metzger, Zachary, 2024). Our comparative study adds journalists’ perspectives by asking how they perceive and manage staff shortages, the lack of resources and precarious working conditions. Interviews with 40 full-time and freelance journalists in one-outlet communities in Germany and the U.S. allow us to contrast local journalists’ strategies in two distinct media and political environments. We contribute to the understanding of why some journalists feel overwhelmed, how some manage to stay afloat, and others find ways to innovate.