Does Democracy Die in Darkness: A County-Level Analysis of Local News and Civic Shifts

This research analyses the decline of local news in North Carolina and its correlations with trends indicative of democratic health. As local news outlets have diminished across the state, this study aims to explore how the loss of local journalism correlates with changes in civic engagement, voter participation, and political polarization. By analyzing county-level data and trends, I seek to understand the role of local news in fostering democratic health and the potential consequences of its decline.