Local news in the Bronx faces a critical situation

It’s no secret that the journalism industry is struggling. It has been struggling for some time. Among media professionals and our readers, listeners or viewers, a sense of fatigue has begun to blanket every new announcement of a layoff or a closure.

In this landscape, local media — outlets like The Riverdale Press where you receive hyperlocal news on the things that directly affect you — is only growing in importance. But it has been hit hard. In some areas, such as vast expanses of rural America, residents have been without a local news source for years. The Bronx has, in some ways, remained fortunate. Here, we still have several local papers, as well as TV news stations that report on local issues. In an ideal world, we would have even more. Hundreds of local journalists competing to get the scoop, to be the most reliable. But in the real world, it seems we’re fighting to keep what we have.

Most residents, by now, have likely seen the reports of layoffs and restructuring in News 12’s Bronx operations. Or perhaps the petition circulating on social media to save print production of the Norwood News has raised alarm bells. It should. Because behind both of these beloved local outlets are journalists dedicated to serving our borough through trustworthy, timely news, just like the small but mighty team here at The Riverdale Press. These institutions inform our communities, and are part of the Bronx media ecosystem where healthy competition between news outlets pushes us all to be better every day.

This is not a plea for subscriptions to The Press, nor is it our way of fishing for appreciation. This is a reminder that the media landscape has been at a tipping point for some time now, and the implications of that state are manifesting on our doorstep. Nobody can say what awaits local journalism, or even national and international journalism for that matter, on the other side of that tipping point. But things are certainly changing, and residents of the Bronx are not powerless in this situation.

So, what can you do? Invest in the local news you love. Subscribe, not just to The Riverdale Press, but to any outlet pursuing the truth. If you have something to advertise, advertise it with a local media outlet. Donate to news outlets and nonprofits if you can. But above all, give local news some of your precious time and attention. Read the articles. Watch the newscasts. Engage with them. Share them. Small actions like these can prove invaluable in encouraging others to see the value in local news. Awareness is often the first step toward preservation.

Media professionals have been targeted in many ways in recent years, and the growing perception that the news is untrustworthy or malicious is a dangerous one. The reality is, journalists work long hours and late nights not because it is glamorous, nor because there are flashy salaries involved. We do it because we believe in the power of truth, and we believe in our communities. That kind of work is worth fighting for.