It can be easy to forget, scrolling through an endless stream of breaking news, that so little of what we’re reading is unbiased, fact-checked and relevant to your community.
Local news is in crisis. Approximately 2,900 newspapers have closed since 2005. For every one hundred political articles in your feed, it would be generous to say even one covers a decision by your local school board.
At The Beacon, we believe that one of the most effective ways to address the information gap and ensure the spread of accurate information is by offering all our stories to other news outlets to republish for free.
Let’s look at why this approach is not only helpful, but necessary.
By the Numbers
More than 1,200 Beacon stories have been republished by 116 different outlets since 2020. Notably, 76% of these republications occurred in the last 12 months. On average, a Beacon article picked up by our republishing partners reaches more than 2 million readers. Additionally, almost half of the organizations adopting our stories are hyperlocal outlets with fewer than 50,000 readers, demonstrating a strong need for more regional content to fill coverage gaps in Missouri and Kansas.
- 123 Kansas state government stories have been republished
- 318 Missouri state government stories have been republished
- 254 stories covering housing & labor in Kansas City and Wichita have been republished
- 168 Beacon stories covering local government in Kansas City and Wichita have been republished
Expanding our impact
Surviving local news outlets across Kansas and Missouri face shrinking budgets. Roughly 1,800 communities across the country lack a local newsroom altogether. Many newsrooms don’t have the capacity to produce in-depth journalism that addresses critical issues affecting their communities. They’re forced to make hard decisions on how to deploy the shrinking number of reporters they can still retain. By making our stories available for free, we make those outlets stronger — and provide more news coverage to their readers. And they do us a favor by amplifying the reach and impact of our reporting.
Restoring trust and credibility
In an era of misinformation and declining trust in the media, nonpartisan journalism is a light in the darkness. One might even say, well, a Beacon.
Newsrooms that republish our work can rely on its accuracy and depth, which, in turn, bolsters their credibility with their audiences. Whether it’s a blog that caters to 500 subscribers, or a major publisher with hundreds of thousands of monthly readers, we consider it a win when any one person discovers trustworthy information that could inspire them to take action.
Driving positive change
At The Beacon, we don’t just highlight problems, we explore solutions. Our in-depth reporting on education, health care, housing, labor and government frequently includes potential routes for improvement.
By sharing these stories widely, we equip readers with a path toward positive change. As communities become more aware of both the problems and how they could be solved, they find ways to make a difference.
Our hope is that informed residents will be more likely to vote, volunteer and advocate for change they want for themselves and their neighbors.
We’re committed to offering our stories to other newsrooms for free as long as we exist. Only by working together can we overcome the local news crisis and illuminate the path forward for our communities.
