Media & Local News
As real local newsrooms shrink, something is filling the gap — and it isn't journalism. We cover the deserts, the imitations, and the machinery of disinformation.
Issue
Media & Local News
News deserts, pink slime, and the playbook that made Springfield go viral.
Stories
How "Eating the Pets" Spread in Days
A secondhand Facebook post became a national talking point in under a week, drew more than 33 bomb threats to Springfield, and was debunked first by a nonprofit newsroom and local Republicans.
04 July 2026
The Map of Ohio's News Deserts
Where local reporting has vanished, and who is left with no paid watchdog at a school board or zoning meeting.
04 July 2026