As the 2026 midterm elections approach, concerns are mounting that commercial local television stations are increasingly prioritizing national content over the local issues that directly affect communities. According to a press release from a coalition of nonprofit news organizations, this shift leaves a void that nonprofit newsrooms are struggling to fill. The release points to a recent op-ed by Dak Dillon on NewscastStudio, which questions why local stations spend valuable airtime on national headlines that viewers have already seen. “Running a national package or reading a wire rundown isn't a service to the audience in 2026. It's dead air with a local anchor's face on it,” Dillon wrote.
The problem, the release argues, is structural. In 2026, media giants like Gray, Scripps, Sinclair, and Nexstar have focused on national content after the FCC lifted its ownership cap. While supporters claimed the change would boost local news, the release states that in practice it favors national content because that is what drives profits. This leaves mayoral races, city councils, county executives, state legislatures, and governors' contests undercovered, threatening informed decision-making at the municipal and state levels.
Nonprofit newsrooms have stepped in to fill the gap. The release highlights several organizations that provide in-depth local reporting. In California, CalMatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom covering the state's 39 million residents. Bay City News serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area, reaching as many as 9 million people through its regional newswire. San Francisco Public Press focuses on under-covered topics and historically underserved audiences, while Mission Local provides high-impact reporting on police reform and City Hall corruption. Open Vallejo illuminates a small city burdened by police violence and neglect, and the Vallejo Sun covers democracy and government in Solano County. The Central Valley Journalism Collaborative strengthens local news in the San Joaquin Valley.
Nationally, the States Newsroom network provides nonpartisan coverage from every state capital, and the Institute for Nonprofit News supports over 500 independent news organizations. Civic News Company operates Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat, covering education, elections, and public health. AAN represents alternative local media, and LION Publishers helps independent news businesses become sustainable.
The release warns that if news deserts can exist in San Francisco—a major metropolitan area—then suburbs and small towns are even more vulnerable. Without reliable local news, voters may lack the information they need to hold local officials accountable. The coalition encourages readers to donate directly to these nonprofit outlets to ensure that democracy, free speech, and reliable information prevail at the local level during the midterm elections.
