The Center for Media Engagement looked at people living in areas with limited or no access to local newspapers — so-called “news deserts” — to see how they find news and information and whether they feel informed and are knowledgeable about local issues.
We found that people living in news deserts don’t always believe that they live in news deserts. Those who feel this way said they still have access to information about their community, often through non-traditional sources such as Facebook. Additionally, social cohesion — a sense of trust, belonging and the willingness to help — correlated with people’s feelings of being informed and their understanding of local issues.
