Contact

Reaching the editorial and administrative offices at Local News Authority connects researchers, journalists, news organizations, and members of the public with a reference resource dedicated to documenting the structure, funding, and policy landscape of local news across the United States. This page outlines the preferred format for incoming inquiries, the realistic timeline for responses, and the specific channels available for different types of requests.

What to Include in Your Message

Effective communication with any reference office depends on specificity. Vague or incomplete inquiries extend response times and reduce the likelihood of a substantive reply. Every message directed to this office should include at minimum the following components:

1. Full name and professional affiliation — Identify whether the inquiry originates from a working journalist, news organization, academic institution, policy body, or independent researcher.
2. Nature of the inquiry — Specify whether the request concerns editorial content, data or statistics, licensing or permissions, a correction to published information, or a general factual question about the local news sector.
3. Specific page or section reference — If the inquiry relates to content already published on this site, include the page title or URL (for example, content related to Local News Deserts in America or Local News Funding Models).
4. Supporting documentation — For correction requests, include the specific claim in question, the proposed correction, and a link or citation to the authoritative source supporting that correction.
5. Response format preference — Indicate whether a brief confirmation, a detailed written response, or a referral to an external source would best serve the inquiry.

Requests missing the sender's affiliation or a clear subject category will be deprioritized during high-volume periods.

Response Expectations

Inquiry volume at reference and authority publications in the media sector varies significantly by news cycle and legislative activity. Correspondents should calibrate expectations accordingly:

• Standard editorial or factual inquiries: Response within 5 business days.
• Correction requests with documentation: Acknowledged within 3 business days; resolution within 10 business days pending editorial review.
• Data or licensing questions: Varies by complexity; initial acknowledgment within 5 business days.
• Press or media inquiries from external journalists: Treated as a priority category; acknowledged within 2 business days.

Inquiries submitted without a clear subject line or without identification of the requesting party are not guaranteed a response within the above windows.

Standard vs. Priority Inquiries — Key Distinction

Standard inquiries cover general questions about the local news landscape, requests for context on published reference content, and feedback on existing pages such as Local News Statistics and Data or the Local News Glossary. Priority inquiries involve time-sensitive corrections to factual claims, legal or regulatory questions about referenced statutes (for example, matters intersecting with Journalism Shield Laws for Local Reporters), and requests originating from federal or state policy bodies.

Additional Contact Options

Beyond the primary message form, specific channels exist for distinct inquiry types:

Correction and Accuracy Requests
Corrections to published content follow a structured editorial review. All correction requests should reference the specific factual assertion, the page on which it appears, and a named public source supporting the proposed revision. Pages covering regulatory or statistical claims — including Local News Policy and Legislation and Local News Advocacy Organizations — are subject to periodic review independent of reader submissions.

Research and Data Inquiries
Researchers seeking unpublished background, methodology details, or source-level data related to coverage areas such as Local News Ownership Consolidation or Grants for Local News should clearly identify their institutional affiliation and the intended use of the information.

Partnership and Syndication Inquiries
Organizations — including nonprofit news outlets, journalism schools, and public interest publishers — seeking to reference, syndicate, or formally cite content should submit a written request identifying the specific content, intended platform, and scope of use.

How to Reach This Office

All written correspondence is handled through the primary contact form available on this page. Physical mail correspondence is processed on a monthly basis and is not appropriate for time-sensitive matters.

Office jurisdiction: National scope, United States local news sector.

Languages accepted: English only for editorial and correction requests.

Response language: English.

No telephone intake is available for general inquiries. Media organizations operating within the local news sector — including community newspapers, nonprofit news organizations, and hyperlocal digital outlets covered in sections such as Hyperlocal News Sites and Community Newspapers Overview — may use the standard message form for all inquiry types.

Requests from government offices or policy researchers related to coverage of Local News and Democracy or Press Freedom at the Local Level should be marked "Policy Inquiry" in the subject line to ensure routing to the appropriate editorial reviewer.