In an era where global events unfold at the speed of a tweet and information spreads faster than ever, there’s an often-overlooked need for news that is deeply anchored in our own backyards: that would be hyper-local, real-time, and accurate community news.
As much as we are bombarded with national headlines, international crises, and viral moments, the stories that most immediately affect our lives often come from the communities we live in. These are the stories of local businesses, school board decisions, neighborhood safety, zoning changes, and even the weather events that alter our daily routines. The demand for this type of news has never been greater—and neither has the gap in its availability.
Over the last two decades, local journalism in the United States has experienced a rapid and often devastating decline. More than 2,000 newspapers have closed across the country since 2004, and the trend has only accelerated in recent years. While some have folded entirely, others have downsized drastically, merged with larger, out-of-area publications, or been swallowed up by corporate conglomerates with little to no local connection.
Many of these corporate entities are hedge funds or private equity firms, motivated primarily by profits rather than public service. These firms often strip away local reporters and editors in favor of centralizing operations or slashing costs, all while the once-vibrant local newsroom withers away.
Even more troubling, ownership of many local papers across the nation is increasingly moving beyond state lines—or even national borders. Even here across Northern and Southern California where countless newspapers have been acquired by companies based in other states and even other countries. These out-of-town ownership groups often have very little “hands on” connection to communities they serve. The result is that all too often, editorial decisions are made remotely or from afar removed from the towns, cities, and neighborhoods that these outlets cover. They are often operating with limited resources and an effort to be profitable takes priority over product, something the late Steve Jobs often spoke about in his talks about success.
Stories about local schools, zoning disputes, or neighborhood events are sidelined, considerably delayed due to a lack of manpower or passion serve and often replaced by content driven more by national trends such as blogs or content those in the industry often refer to as “fluff or filler,” all in the the theme to continue to produce a much smaller product than in the past to maximize profit.
For many communities, the loss of locally owned, locally operated news outlets means the loss of a critical civic resource. When local voices are drowned out by distant corporate interests, it becomes more difficult for residents to stay informed about the issues that directly affect their daily lives. Local papers, often the first line of defense in holding public officials accountable or raising awareness about community needs, are increasingly being hollowed out by outside interests with no true stake in the welfare of the towns they cover.
Amid this challenging landscape, beacons of hope have emerged in various communities in the digital market. As recently detailed in a Comstock’s business article, Folsom Times is one of those that has emerged and grown to be both successful and financially sustainable in the two years it has been in operation now. Folsom Times was created with one clear mission: to ensure that the communities of Folsom and nearby towns have a reliable, locally owned and operated source for community news. In a time when large, corporate-owned outlets are pulling back on local coverage, Folsom Times offers an invaluable resource for residents, providing accurate, timely, and relevant reporting on the issues that matter most to those living in the area.
What sets Folsom Times apart isn’t just its focus on the community—it’s the fact that it is truly embedded within that community. The publication is locally owned, which means that decisions are made by people who live, work, and participate in the very neighborhoods they cover. Unlike large corporate media organizations that may prioritize profits or national stories, Folsom Times focuses solely on the local issues, offering a unique perspective on everything from local politics and public health to events, arts, and business development.
The Importance of community involvement
The value of a local, community-driven news outlet goes beyond just delivering information. A truly engaged news organization plays an active role in the community it serves. It doesn’t simply report on the issues; it becomes part of the fabric of the community, involved in local events, public discussions, and even grassroots efforts that shape the region’s future. This type of journalism doesn’t just inform—it engages, it connects, and it strengthens the bonds between neighbors.
Local news organizations that are embedded in their communities are often the first to recognize emerging issues that may not yet be on the radar of larger outlets. They are able to dig deeper, offering context and nuance that reflects the lived experiences of the people who call the area home. Whether it’s a school funding crisis, a contentious zoning change, or a new business opening its doors, a locally operated outlet like *Folsom Times* is more likely to reflect the diverse voices and perspectives that make up the community.
More than that, local news outlets have the ability to serve as a voice for the community, amplifying concerns and celebrating successes. A publication that is involved in local events—whether it’s hosting town halls, covering charity fundraisers, or attending local festivals—becomes more than just a source of information; it becomes a gathering point for civic engagement. It can help foster a sense of pride and shared identity, while also providing a platform for diverse voices that might otherwise be overlooked by larger, more distant media companies.
The call for hyper-local news in a digital age
As we continue to navigate the challenges of the digital era, the demand for real-time, hyper-local news has never been more pressing. In an age when people want information delivered to them instantly, and when misinformation can spread like wildfire, the need for reliable, accurate local reporting is essential. But it’s not just about speed—it’s about trust. Communities need news sources they can rely on, sources that aren’t swayed by distant corporate interests but are grounded in the lives of the people they serve.
For this reason, locally operated outlets like *Folsom Times* are crucial. They offer a unique and much-needed resource—one that isn’t just about the delivery of news, but about fostering deeper community involvement and engagement. Local news organizations that are not only reporting on community issues but actively participating in them are in a unique position to keep citizens informed and connected.
The future of local journalism depends on its ability to adapt and innovate. Newspapers that fail to embrace digital platforms or that don’t prioritize real-time, interactive coverage will likely continue to struggle. But for locally operated resources that have the community at their core, the opportunities are endless. When news is hyper-local, real-time, and rooted in the community it serves, it has the power to strengthen democracy, foster unity, and ensure that residents are informed, engaged, and empowered to make decisions that directly affect their lives.
In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, we strive to innovate and expand Folsom Times to always “be with the times,” and offer a model for what community journalism ca and should be. Our mass readership by our local communities are a clear illustration to us that local community news still matters and that when local procurement and ownership of stories occurs, the entire community benefits.
As we move forward, it’s more important than ever that we support and nurture these kinds of community-based news outlets to ensure that local voices continue to be heard and amplified. Rest assured that will always be a priority for us and we are grateful for the advertising and readership support of our community for giving us the financial ability so just that.
On our platform, Folsom Times focuses on the news, both good and bad within the Folsom community as well keeping our community informed of pertinent news and happening across our neighboring communities as well, including that of El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Gold River and others. Often times, there are significant news events happening in these areas that could affect or are of interest to Folsom’s more than 80,000 population and our dedicated regular readers that are beyond 150,000 each month from our local community alone. We welcome organizations to submit their professional press releases regarding their events to news@folsomtimes.com.
Additionally, our platform offers services to the community such as a free business directory where businesses, both those who advertise with us and others, to enter their business in the appropriate category, this feature is used is by many each and every day as they search for services in the area to patronize. We also offer a free community event calendar for organizations to enter their community events and put them in the spotlight of our website that serves sees more than 900,000 pages viewed in a single month. Those wishing to enter their community event, can do so by using our online entry form right here.
We would like to thank everyone that has continued to support our efforts these last two years and continue to amaze us in numbers each and every month. This includes our many paid advertisers, which are the fiscal heartbeat that makes Folsom Times available to the community. Then, of course our countless readers that visit our site and make it their “go to” local news resource. Let’s face it, without our many readers, we wouldn’t be of interest to advertisers and sponsors, so your role is important to us. The list goes on and on, from our local chamber of commerce leaders, city leaders and more, all of which continue to support this venture as we thrive to strive to keep you informed.
We are also grateful for many of our industry neighbors that work closely with us and share in the support of our venture, some of those include KFBK Radio, where we have been welcomed to the Pat Walsh Show and part of the daily “News from your Neighborhood,” segment countless times. We also work closely with the locally owned Style Media Group and love what they do here in our community along with Steve Heard at MyFolsom.com, Sacramento Business Journal, Courthouse News, Messenger Publications, Comstock’s and more. In today’s times, working together to make “competition,” into “CO-OPitition” among locally owned companies is a great mode to be part of, l where everyone wins. Thank you, all of you!
Bill Sullivan is a co-founder and CEO of All Town Media LLC and Folsom Times, the Folsom Chamber of Commerce 2024 Emerging Business of the Year