Rebuilding Trust in Divided Communities

Lost in Translation: How Local News Can Rebuild Trust in Divided Communities

Where do you turn for trustworthy news? In Part One, we explored how people tend to believe the news that aligns with their personal views. Part Two examined how social media algorithms reinforce our biases, shaping what we see and what we miss. Now, in Part Three, we take a closer look at the decline of local news and what happens when communities lose independent journalism.

Without local reporters covering school board meetings, town halls, and community issues, national narratives fill the gap—often with misinformation and partisan spin. Can small-town news outlets rebuild trust in an era of deep division? And what role does independent media play in restoring balance?

This is Part Three of our series on media trust: “Lost in Translation: How Local News Can Rebuild Trust in Divided Communities.” Listen now on our Facebook page or at AlleghenyMountainRadio.org.