Where is local news headed in 2026? Here’s what LMA staff says

A new year brings new opportunities for local media companies to evolve and thrive. We focus on reinventing business models for news. Here, LMA staff members predict opportunities for growth and potential challenges for media in 2026. And we reveal some troubling things that keep us up at night, and encouraging things that get us going every day.

Jay Small

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

I’m watching all kinds of support organizations — including LMA/LMF, of course — as well as some media companies themselves as they expand the field of available shared services aimed at smaller, independently operated news outlets. That’s exciting to me because those are often the ones keeping rural, underserved or underrepresented communities informed — and they don’t get the benefits of scale enjoyed by larger media companies. Some shared services provide “fractional executive” support, others focus on routine operations such as finance/accounting or H.R., and still others on shared creative and production. Most of the services I’m watching allow smaller organizations to “punch above their weight,” or at a fundamental level, simply manage costs to improve chances of sustainability.

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

It’s the same concern that has been “on my radar” for 20 years at least: We, as an industry, do not have a definitive answer to years-long disruption in the economics of local media advertising. As time goes by, it feels more like we’re just raising our shoulders for a collective shrug, when instead we should be refocusing on local, direct B2B relationships and product innovation beyond today’s ad forms to support them. Philanthropy and consumer revenue alone will not provide for enough working journalists and resources to properly cover local news. We need B2B revenue.

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

“Bold”? No. But I will say that local media leaders who keep the focus on impact instead of attention, on local relationships instead of network effects, and on being part of their communities instead of compensated observers — those are the ones who will give themselves the best chances to succeed, in 2026 and beyond.

– Jay Small, LMA/LMF co-CEO

Julia Campbell

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

What excites me most this year is watching collaboration shift from theory into action. Media companies are coming together around shared revenue operations, hands-on technology support, and structured teamwork that lets them pool expertise and scale smarter without losing their local identity. Collaboration is becoming a real business strategy that drives efficiency, sparks innovation, and creates the kind of sustainable growth that individual newsrooms struggle to achieve on their own.

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

The biggest challenge on my radar for 2026 is revenue growth. I know this isn’t new, but it remains the most critical problem we face. Many media companies still rely on legacy revenue models that are vanishing faster than they can be replaced. We need to build diversified, recurring revenue streams that can weather whatever comes next. Growth has to come from stronger advertiser partnerships, new products, and deeper connections with our audiences. Without sustainable revenue expansion, everything else we’re trying to build becomes impossible to sustain.

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

Here’s my prediction for 2026: trust is about to become the secret weapon that sets local news organizations apart.

We’re swimming in AI-generated content and countless independent voices. In all that noise, people are craving something real. They want to know if they can believe what they’re reading and who stands behind it.

Local newsrooms that double down on strong editorial standards, show up authentically in their communities, and stand by clear values are going to shine.

Trust will bring readers back, attract advertisers, open doors to partnerships, and build something sustainable.

– Julia Campbell, LMA/LMF co-CEO

Nancy Lane

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

I believe it will be a breakout year for journalism funded by philanthropy. Our local news fund more than doubled in 2025, and graduates of the LMA Lab for Journalism Funding have collectively raised over $38 million. These are bright spots in an otherwise brutal year for the industry. We must seize that momentum and appeal to high-net-worth individuals, DAFs, estate planning and crowdfunding, in addition to support from foundations and other philanthropic organizations. Local news and information have never been more important — just look at the work going on in Minneapolis over the last few months. Funders get this. As an industry, we must seize this moment. 

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

I am extremely concerned about press freedom. We are watching it being dismantled in front of our eyes every day. As an industry, we need to go on the offensive and talk about why press freedom matters. We have a board committee, led by Ken Doctor, Jane Wooldridge and Jim Brady, working with us on this. We’ve entered a dangerous time where journalists are being arrested, sprayed with tear gas, bullied, and more. We’re watching large media organizations being censored and sued. My plea to the industry is to speak up. Silence is not an option. 

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

It’s more of a wish — I’d like to see the wealthiest people in the country support the local news industry at this critical time. MacKenzie Scott gave $2 million to Local Media Foundation two years ago, and that proved to be game-changing for three of our initiatives: Word In Black, News is Out, and LMA Labs. Imagine what could happen if wealthy donors made local journalism as important as the arts, health, education, politics, and more. I believe it is possible. I believe there is an appetite for this. We need to tell our story. When local news goes away, so does democracy. 

– Nancy Lane, CEO Emeritus

John M. Humenik

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

I see an even greater emphasis on personalization of local content. It will be a strategic focus and a business transformation opportunity. To accomplish this, local publishers will continue to experiment with emerging technology, especially artificial intelligence, to forge a stronger 1-to-1 relationship with news consumers. This will amplify two valuable strategic outcomes. First, local news consumers will reward trustworthy local content providers with their engagement and brand loyalty. Second, local publishers’ value proposition with news consumers will strengthen because of timely, relevant, and personalized local content.

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

Local advertisers and local media benefit when they work together to engage local consumers and expand market reach. More creative and collaborative marketing solutions are needed, especially as economic pressures create greater urgency for new revenue streams. They have a vested interest in an informed local marketplace. As local publishers also work to expand their digital audiences and improve their digital platform user experience, they should share their real-time insights with local advertisers. They also should increase their collaborative experimentation, especially when exploring more engaging marketing formats, digital services and the gathering and use of first-party data

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

Artificial intelligence will help local newsrooms become more efficient, especially when addressing and reducing workflow bottlenecks. We’re already seeing this positive impact. Local media, with the support of organizations like Local Media Association, will embrace more experimentation with AI to help local publishers reach larger audiences with more relevant and engaging digital content. AI-powered tools also will extend the effectiveness of local reporters when managing large amounts of data. It’s also my hope that by experimenting with these new tools and capabilities newsrooms will generate more interactive informational graphics to better explain complex local news topics.

– John M. Humenik, LMA/LMF chief strategy and operations officer

John Celestand

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

I believe that because of the current political environment, you will see a more concentrated effort from local news organizations to focus on investigative reporting.  In response, some funders and many individual donors may feel more urgency to support and help foster investigative reporting efforts for local newsrooms.  

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

The growing attack on the free press is my biggest concern.  Look no further than the arrest of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for their coverage on the protest in the church in Minnesota.  If freedom of the press, our constitutional right, is under attack or seemingly ignored, we are moving into really dangerous times for many local media outlets. 

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

I predict you will see much more competition in the local news industry.  This climate will spur a wave of independent journalists looking to cover stories and things that matter deeply to communities.  Local media outlets will have to adjust in terms of who they utilize to distribute information to their audiences and how they disseminate information to their audiences.  As a result, traditional outlets will need to rethink both who they rely on to distribute information and how they engage audiences. Simply stating the facts will no longer be enough, audiences increasingly want perspective, transparency, and a clear sense of where an organization stands. Playing the middle or avoiding tough positions may no longer be effective.

– John Celestand, director of funding services, Knight x LMA BloomLab

Kristyn Cooper

1. What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

One of the most exciting developments in the newsroom fundraising landscape for 2026 is the continued momentum we’re seeing in philanthropic support for local journalism. Many newsrooms that participated in Local News Fund programs more than doubled their fundraising between 2024 and 2025, which demonstrates that with the right strategy and support, community-focused outlets can unlock significant new revenue. This growth not only strengthens individual organizations but helps build a broader culture of investment in quality journalism, a critical pillar for healthy communities.  

2. What is the biggest challenge or concern on your radar for 2026?

The most significant challenge facing newsrooms this year is the political climate that continues to put pressure on the free press. Increasing polarization and attacks on journalistic credibility are not only affecting audience trust but also the broader environment in which funders and communities make decisions about supporting local news. This makes the work of advocacy, transparency, and relationship-building with supporters more important, and more difficult than ever. 

3. Do you have a “bold prediction” for the future of local news in 2026?

While it’s hard to predict with certainty in such a dynamic moment, one bold prediction for 2026 is that audiences will increasingly view trusted local news as essential infrastructure, similar to libraries and schools. This shift in perception will lead to deeper community investment and new hybrid models of support that blend philanthropy, membership, and institutional partnerships. As more communities recognize the value of independent information ecosystems, we’ll see innovation not just in how news is reported, but in how it’s funded and sustained.

– Kristyn Cooper, LMA/LMF director of journalism funding initiatives

Apryl Pilloli

What’s the most exciting development you see coming for the industry this year?

I expect that in 2026, AI will change everything about local news: how publishers produce content, how people find it, and even how we think about workflows we’ve spent years establishing. I work with publishers who are still doing things the same way they did five years ago, and that’s not going to work this year. The ones who make it through won’t be the biggest; they’ll be the most adaptable. You have to be willing to let go of ‘how we’ve always done it’ and treat adaptability like it’s part of your job description.

– Apryl Pilolli, technology director, Knight x LMA BloomLab