What does the local news crisis actually cost communities?

According to new research from Rebuild Local News, the answer is about $1.1 billion every year in higher borrowing costs alone.

Keep It Local host Ryan Welton sits down with Matt Baker, director of research at Rebuild Local News, to discuss the organization's latest report and why communities without watchdog journalism pay more to finance schools, roads and public infrastructure.

They also explore the broader consequences of news deserts, including civic engagement, public accountability, financial misconduct and the growing body of research showing that local journalism delivers measurable economic value.

• Why lenders charge more when local news disappears
• The connection between watchdog journalism and taxpayer costs
• Examples of communities where accountability reporting made a difference
• The broader economic impacts of news deserts
• Why rebuilding local journalism will require more than one solution

Guest: Matt Baker, Director of Research, Rebuild Local News

Learn more about Rebuilding Local News at https://www.rebuildlocalnews.org/

If you'd like to be a guest on the Keep It Local podcast or, perhaps, to sponsor Keep It Local — reach out to Lindsey Estes at lindsey.estes@localmedia.org and Ryan Welton at ryan.welton@localmedia.org