Community members step in when professional newsrooms die. News is driven by duty, not dollars

Nick Mathews is an assistant professor of journalism who specializes in local news and the economics of journalism. His research examines the everyday impact of limited access to news and the economic, technological and societal forces reshaping the field.

The rural town of Almena, Kansas — home to fewer than 400 people — sits less than 10 miles from the Nebraska border, roughly halfway between Kansas City and Denver. Of the 19,000 incorporated places in the United States, nearly 18,000, including Almena, have populations under 25,000. And that doesn’t even account for countless unincorporated communities that dot the rural landscape.

Almena is small, very small. But so are thousands of other Almenas, scattered across the country and around the world.

In 1990, the weekly newspaper Almena Plaindealer folded when its owner, Helmi Moody, could not find a buyer. Four years later, a group of residents stepped in, launching the Prairie Dog Press — a publication proudly bearing the phrase “community volunteer newspaper” on its masthead. Written and produced by volunteers from Almena, about Almena, and for Almena, it has endured — marking its 30th anniversary last year.

Similarly, in rural Connecticut, The Granby Drummer proclaims itself as an “all-volunteer non-profit newspaper.” And in a rural community in Denmark, the HornePosten has printed quarterly since 1973 and terms the publication as “sogneblad,” which translates into “parish magazine,” or community magazine. 

These are just three examples of volunteer journalism worldwide. No central organization connects them, no industry association tracks them. We do not know how many exist. Unlike commercial news outlets, which are typically part of regional or national associations, these news organizations remain largely uncharted.

While their journalism may be untracked and unpaid, it is by no means unimportant.

In 1990, the weekly newspaper Almena Plaindealer folded when its owner, Helmi Moody, could not find a buyer. Four years later, a group of residents stepped in, launching the Prairie Dog Press — a publication proudly bearing the phrase “community volunteer newspaper” on its masthead. Written and produced by volunteers from Almena, about Almena, and for Almena, it has endured — marking its 30th anniversary last year.

This is precisely why a team of researchers — me included — sought to investigate this largely unknown group. A recent article in the academic journal Journalism Practice explored this under-recognized phenomenon and introduced the concept of “volunteer journalism” into the academic lexicon. 

Two questions perhaps rise. What exactly is volunteer journalism? And: Should journalism — given its importance to communities, democracy and society — be left in the hands of volunteers?

It’s important to highlight three critical elements that go beyond the simple absence of compensation to journalists. While the news products varied — from weekly newsletters to monthly newspapers to quarterly magazines — the central thread was volunteerism.

First, volunteer journalism is defined by a sustained commitment to an organization, distinguishing it from other forms of uncompensated journalism, such as citizen journalism. Citizen journalists typically capture a moment or news event, often working independently and sharing content on social media or digital platforms. Occasionally, they may collaborate with traditional news organizations to distribute their content. In contrast, volunteer journalism is defined by an organization comprised of volunteers who contribute consistently over time, rather than focusing solely on singular news events or moments.

Second, volunteer journalism is characterized by the creation, curation and circulation of news and information. Unlike other forms of content that are designed to persuade or influence, volunteer journalism focuses on sharing factual content with their communities. This aligns volunteer journalism more closely with the norms and objectives of traditional news organizations.

Third, volunteer journalism centers on serving the broader community, rather than focusing on advocacy or specific topics or issues. Volunteer journalism prioritizes providing news and information that reflects the interests and needs of the entire community, again aligning with the goals of traditional news organizations.

It’s important to highlight three critical elements that go beyond the simple absence of compensation to journalists. While the news products varied — from weekly newsletters to monthly newspapers to quarterly magazines — the central thread was volunteerism.

To be sure, serving their community was the driving force behind the volunteer journalists interviewed in the research project. As one participant put it, “I don’t need to get paid for doing this. It’s simply part of what I do for my community.”

Study participants were driven by a strong sense of duty to address their community’s need for news and information — a need often heightened by the closure of local newspapers, as seen in Almena, Kansas.

In another example, a volunteer in a rural New England community saw a similar void after the closure of a longtime local weekly newspaper and started a new volunteer publication.

“People had been missing the paper for six months,” the study participant said. “We were saying, ‘There’s enough interest here to support (us). We’re going to do this.’ ”

Taking the lead, the volunteer gathered a group of about 15 residents — mostly friends and family — to produce the first edition of a four-page weekly newspaper. Over the past five years, the volunteer team has expanded to as many as 50 people, with roles including news gathering, proofreading and distribution.

Would we all love for every community to fund professional journalism? Of course.

Would we all also prefer every community to have professional fire departments? Absolutely. But the reality is, many do not. Around 65% of fire departments in the United States are volunteer run.

Many of the Almenas of the world lack the services that other communities take for granted. According to a recent study from Northwestern University, roughly 225 counties in the United States lack a local news organization.

In these communities, some may believe it is heartening — not dismissible — that volunteers step up to provide news and information when no one else will. These volunteer journalists’ dedication can be seen as a powerful testament to the value of journalism. 

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Cite this article

Mathews, Nick (2025, April 9). Rural towns give rise to ‘volunteer journalism’. Retrieved from: https://rjionline.org/news/rural-towns-give-rise-to-volunteer-journalism/