From understanding what’s happening in our neighborhoods to making decisions about schools, safety, and local leadership, people rely on local information every day. Local News Day is a national moment to celebrate that connection—and take simple steps to strengthen it.

Why Local News Day Matters

Across the country, people are choosing to start local. They’re following neighborhood outlets, subscribing to trusted sources, and supporting the organizations that help them stay connected to their communities.

At the same time, the landscape is shifting. More than 1,300 communities nationwide are considered “news deserts,” and in Texas, many counties have limited or no consistent local news coverage.

Local News Day connects both sides of this story. It’s a day to recognize the role local news plays in daily life and to act—whether that’s following a newsroom on social media, sharing a story, or making a gift that helps sustain this work. And when people come together to support local news, the entire ecosystem grows stronger.

A Local Solution with Lasting Impact

As the local lead for Press Forward San Antonio, the San Antonio Area Foundation is part of a national movement to strengthen access to reliable local information through coordinated, community-centered action.

“Local news is how people stay connected to what’s happening around them and make informed decisions about their daily lives,” said Jesus Garcia-Gonzalez, senior program officer at the San Antonio Area Foundation, where he leads the organization’s Press Forward effort. “Local News Day is an opportunity to build on that connection and make it even stronger.”

One of the most effective ways to participate is by contributing to the Local News Fund, a pooled fund that brings donors together to support local news organizations and the infrastructure behind them.

Through this collective approach, the Local News Fund:

  • Supports reliable local information and the people who provide it.
  • Provides flexible, sustained funding to strengthen local news organizations.
  • Opens doors for new voices and local reporting talent.
  • Protects independence through combined support.

When donors come together, the impact reaches further. In Texas, more than 130 counties have only one newsroom, and 30 have none, highlighting where collective support can make the greatest difference.

“Strong communities depend on access to trustworthy local information,” said Lisa Brunsvold, Chief Development Officer at the Area Foundation. “When donors come together to support local news, they’re investing in a more informed, connected, and resilient community.”

Additional Ways to Take Part

Local News Day is designed to be simple and accessible. You can participate in a way that feels right for you:

  • Follow a local news outlet on social media, or subscribe to their newsletter.
  • Share a story that matters to your community, citing a local news organization as your source of information.
  • Directly support the outlets you rely on most (Find info on local outlets at localnewsday.org)

No matter how you choose to take action this Local News Day, your effort helps ensure local information remains accessible, relevant, and rooted in the communities it serves.