Local News in the 21st Century
Filmmakers Beth Levison and Jerry Risius discussed their documentary, Storm Lake, about the Storm Lake Times, a small town family-run newspaper in Iowa and its efforts to stay afloat amidst shrinking ad revenues and the coronavirus pandemic. In 2017, the editor of the newspaper, Art Cullen, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
Description
Filmmakers Beth Levison and Jerry Risius discussed their documentary, "Storm Lake," about the "Storm Lake Times," a small town family-run newspaper in Iowa and its efforts to stay afloat amidst shrinking ad revenues and the coronavirus pandemic. In 2017, the editor of the newspaper, Art Cullen, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- Based on the clip, how many newspapers have closed since 2004?
- According to Beth Levison, what challenges are newspapers currently facing across the country?
- What is the definition of a "news desert?"
- Why does Jerry Risius say local news matters, even in the "digital age?"