Editor’s note: Local news is in more jeopardy now than ever

New York City used to be a town of multiples – and still is to some degree. New Yorkers can still choose between the Daily News and New York Post, although some may argue the News is a shadow of its original self these days and has only loyalists hanging on. New Yorkers also have their choice of all-news radio stations – that is until Aug. 26 when WCBS 880 ceases to exist, leaving only 1010 WINS. It’s ironic since both originally were rivals, but now are sister stations under the same owner, Audacy. The company blamed "the headwinds facing local journalism nationwide.” WCBS will retire its call letters and the station instead will become WHSQ, broadcasting ESPN talk radio. That’s where the money is. And it only gets worse for local news.

WNYC plans 8% layoffs and/or buyouts “at minimum,” Semafor media editor Max Tani posted last week. Tani quoted New York Public Radio President and CEO LaFontaine Oliver from an internal memo saying that “without swift action, we will soon face significant questions about our ability to continue to serve New York.” Add to that The New York Times’ decision to stop running endorsements of New York races. The Times’ story about the decision notes that Alden Global Capital, the second-largest newspaper owner in the country, made a similar decision because readers were “often confused” differentiating between news and opinion. Times Opinion Editor Kathleen Kingsbury said the paper remained “rooted in New York City.” How so after killing the endorsements? That was a service to the Times’ readership. These decisions, whether business-related or editorially driven, continue the abandonment of local journalism. It’s a crisis that’s only getting worse.