Are News Deserts Silencing Your Community? The Truth They’re Not Telling You! (w/Craig Lazzeretti)

In this episode of The Disinfo Detox, we dive into a journalism crisis you rarely hear about on mainstream news: the rise of news deserts—communities left uninformed as local newsrooms disappear. Without local journalists holding power to account, critical issues go unreported, and communities are left in the dark.But in Martinez, California, one journalist is fighting back. Craig Lazzeretti saw firsthand the impact of shrinking newsrooms on his community and decided to take action. He launched a Substack dedicated to uncovering the environmental, health, economic, and political issues affecting his hometown—stories that local outlets were no longer covering.In this candid conversation, Craig shares his journey from traditional newsrooms to independent reporting, revealing the challenges and rewards of grassroots journalism. We explore the vital role of local news in maintaining community accountability, exposing environmental injustices, and empowering citizens with the information they need.This episode also delves into the broader implications of news deserts on democracy and public trust. Can local journalism be saved? What happens when communities lose their watchdogs? And how can independent journalists like Craig bridge the gap left by corporate media consolidation?Join us as we discuss the fight to revive local news coverage, the power of independent journalism, and why supporting community reporting is more important than ever. Don’t forget to subscribe for more in-depth conversations on media, misinformation, and the stories that matter.Martinez News and Views https://martineznewsandviews.substack.comStay connected and join the conversation—follow Nolan Higdon onsocial media for insights, updates, and more!Substack (https://nolanhigdon.substack.com/).FacebookX (formerlyTwitter)BlueskyLinkedInTumblrInstagramMuckRack