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We the Texans

Join us for a May 9 conversation about local news and democracy

We’ll talk about local news and news deserts in Texas, how communities are ipacted and what can be done to ensure Texans across the state have access to reliable local news.

Between 2005 and 2022 Texas lost 65% of its newspaper journalists, according to a 2023 report on the state of local news. And while there are alternative local news outlets like TV stations, public broadcasting stations, digital-only sites and ethnic media organizations, it is extremely difficult to fill the gap left behind in communities as newspapers shrink or shutter completely.

With the growth of news deserts, communities without reliable local news sources often see an increase in the mistrust of media and other institutions, and residents are often victims of misinformation.

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But people in Texas and beyond, many dedicated news outlets remain and people are talking about solutions.

Join The Texas Tribune on Thursday, May 9, in Odessa and online for a conversation about local news and democracy. The hourlong conversation, which starts at 12:30 p.m., is part of our “We the Texans” project, will discuss the impact of local news, news deserts in Texas, the real impact that communities are facing and what can be done to address the reverse the issue and ensure Texans across the state have access to reliable local news. Matthew Watkins, the Tribune’s managing editor for news, will moderate the conversation. Panelists include Patrick Canty, the publisher of the Odessa American.

Register today to ensure you don’t miss this conversation.

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival, happening in downtown Austin Sept. 5-7. Get your TribFest tickets before May 1 and save big!

Wait! We need your help.

More than 2 million people read Texas Tribune articles every month, but only 12,000 of those readers also donate to support the news they count on. Not even 1% of readers! If you are one of the 99% of Texas Tribune readers who hasn’t made a donation before in support of independent Texas news, you can change that today. A small donation makes a big impact.

Our Spring Member Drive is an important time to help our newsroom plan for what resources will be available for them to tackle longer investigations and bigger projects later this year. Texas Tribune journalists need the support of readers to write the articles, take the photographs and create the data visualizations that impact Texans and Texas policy.

We have a goal to have 500 readers become Texas Tribune members during our Spring Member Drive. As the Tribune member community grows, the journalism you read here is better protected. Will you make a donation today to show your support of independent Texas news?

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Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

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