Steven Waldman, Author at Poynter

Steven Waldman

President, Founder
Rebuild Local News

Steven Waldman is president of Rebuild Local News and co-founder of Report for America.

Opinion | The California local news deal with Google is both a model and a cautionary tale

The final deal for local news funding doesn't match initial hopes, but Rebuild Local News' founder argues it's still progress

September 5, 2024

Opinion | How AI could sap — or save — local news

The answers to these 9 questions could shape the outcome of artificial intelligence’s effects on the local news sector.

January 25, 2024

Opinion | Some of the biggest victims of news deserts are conservative voters in conservative counties

Strengthening local news would have broad civic benefits and could lead to happier, healthier communities, whether red, purple or blue.

December 7, 2023

Opinion | Instead of Taylor Swift beat reporters, we need Nextdoor beat reporters

Its reach is on par with, if not greater than, US newspapers. Instead of harrumphing its lack of journalistic standards, why don’t we embed reporters?

November 15, 2023

Opinion | Action needed to avoid local news setbacks like Pennsylvania sale

Alden Global Capital's purchase of four local papers highlights the need for new policies and more options

September 1, 2023

Opinion | How high school sports coverage can save democracy

Obituaries, sports, local theater and schools coverage can make communities stronger and reduce polarization

June 5, 2023

Opinion | We are becoming a nation of local news haves and have nots

And the solutions we are pursuing may be locking in this divide.

July 6, 2022

Opinion | Why local news should be included in the infrastructure bill

Congress should include the proposed $2.4 billion for local news in the bill because local news is, in fact, the civic infrastructure of democracy.

May 28, 2021

Opinion | Opinion: Faux local news sites are flooding America. Here’s how we fix it.

Philanthropy and policymakers need to respond rapidly and boldly or our local news ecosystems will soon resemble national cable TV, or worse.

October 19, 2020

How the government can help save local news without endangering its editorial independence

A plan from the Rebuild Local News coalition would dramatically increase the number of local reporters without creating a big new government agency.

October 1, 2020

A government fund to help journalism … that wouldn’t corrupt journalism

The debate about whether to fund local media needs to move beyond the theoretical to the practical.

July 2, 2020

A Mad Men approach to saving local news

The federal government already spends about $1 billion on advertising. Why not increase that and make sure some goes to local newsrooms?

May 28, 2020

It’s time to uproot American newspapers from hedge funds and replant them in more hospitable ground

And we need to then nurture locally-owned and nonprofit news organizations.

May 15, 2020

Why is local news innovation struggling financially while national thrives?

On the national level, we’ve seen an exciting burst of investment and innovation in digital…

February 3, 2014

Why journalists should weigh in on FCC disclosure rules — while there’s still time

With little fanfare, the Federal Communications Commission has issued rules that could greatly help the…

December 13, 2011