Program

Inside the news desert: A conversation with Nick Mathews

A free virtual session from the Lenfest Communities of Practice

April 14, 2026

Date: Thursday, May 7 

Time: 3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. MT / 12 p.m. PT

Join us for a candid conversation with Nick Mathews, author of upcoming book Deserted: Life Without Local News in Rural America, about what happens when local news disappears, and what that means for the journalists still doing the work.

Drawing on firsthand reporting from communities across the country, Mathews examines the forces driving newsroom closures, consolidation, and growing disconnection from local audiences. 

In this session, we’ll explore how the dynamics described in Deserted are showing up in real time:

• evolving relationships between journalists and residents
• ownership models that prioritize scale over service
• widening gaps in coverage and community trust