A Journalist's Memoir & Urgent Plea
At least 55 million Americans now have little to no access to local news in their communities — and that number grows every day. Rick Thames, who spent nearly four decades in journalism, including 13 years as Executive Editor and Vice President for News at The Charlotte Observer, has written a book that should matter to everyone who cares about democracy, community, and truth.
Why Local News weaves together memoir, reporting, and advocacy — drawing on Thames' career from uncovering military parachute failures at Fort Bragg to leading one of the South's great newspapers — to make the case for why local journalism is worth fighting to save.
Published by McFarland Books, Why Local News also profiles the journalists and outlets across the country still doing the work, and offers a vision for how communities can come together to rescue this endangered but essential institution.
