Rural Media Project

In our democracy, media matters. Bridging the digital divide and providing support comprehensive rural media reporting are essential parts of broadening the conversation about rural America's future.

But over the past dozen years, the mainstream media has staged a systematic retreat from rural America. Media consolidation, trimmed local personnel and reliance on generic satellite programming have resulted in less and less coverage of rural-specific issues. And lack of affordable access to broadband in rural areas is limiting opportunities for distance learning, improved health care, information access and e-commerce.

Action plan

• Organize professional media seminars in key rural states, specifically designed for rural media.

  The Main Street Project partnered with the Iowa Newspaper Association, the Center for Rural Strategies, and the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues on a daylong professional development workshop for rural journalists in May 2007. The focus was on providing information and rural perspectives on broadband access, rural development and health care policy.

• Provide ongoing information and news support, specifically for financially challenged rural newspapers and radio news operations.

• Develop strategic partnerships with rural policy centers.

• Build a Web-based information archive and distribution system for use by local media, community groups and interested citizens.