News Deserts are Changing Rural America
In this episode, we examine how the absence of local news affects political polarization, civic engagement, and community identity.
First, scholars John Volk and Joshua Darr join The Hot Dish to discuss the emergence and consequences of News Deserts across the United States.
Then, journalist Brandon Tensley and Joel engage in a compelling conversation on the importance of local news to communities of color across America.
Listen to learn more about how this phenomenon shapes information access, democratic participation, and the broader political landscape, proving the media's pivotal role in shaping public discourse.
First, scholars John Volk and Joshua Darr join The Hot Dish to discuss the emergence and consequences of News Deserts across the United States.
Then, journalist Brandon Tensley and Joel engage in a compelling conversation on the importance of local news to communities of color across America.
Listen to learn more about how this phenomenon shapes information access, democratic participation, and the broader political landscape, proving the media's pivotal role in shaping public discourse.
Heidi and Joel delve into the shift away from local media sources and the consequential impact on the social fabric of middle America. They provide listeners with a practical roadmap for actively engaging with local politics and media by highlighting the importance of reviving local journalism, offering ways communities can rebuild their media ecosystems, and exploring how doing so will improve democratic engagement and reduce polarization.
Join us on The Hot Dish every other week, where we serve up hearty conversations that resonate with every corner of the country.
The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project, making sure the voices of the rest of us are heard in Washington. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org or find us on Substack at https://onecountryproject.substack.com/.
Creators and Guests
Host
Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013 – 2019. he is the founder and Chair of the One Country Project, an organization focused on addressing the needs and concerns of rural America. Heidi was recently named the Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, a university she has long been committed to and a place where she enjoys engaging with students over civic discussions while encouraging them to seek opportunities in public service to our country. Heidi also serves as a contributor to both CNBC and ABC News.
Host
Joel Heitkamp
He is an multi-award winning talk show host both regionally and nationally. Before radio, he served in the North Dakota Senate from 1995-2008.
Guest
Brandon Tensley
Brandon Tensley is Capital B's national politics reporter. Previously, he was a national political writer at CNN, where he covered the intersection of culture, identity, and politics. Prior to that, he was a co-host of Slate's Outward podcast and a contributing writer at Pacific Standard. Brandon was also a Luce Scholar in Thailand and a Fulbright Scholar in Germany.
Guest
John Volk
John Volk is a researcher and journalist with Northwestern University’s Local News Initiative. He manages, updates and analyzes the LNI’s nationwide database of news organizations and reports on trends in the American local news landscape.
Guest
Joshua P. Darr
Joshua P. Darr is an associate professor at the Newhouse School of Public Communications and a Senior Researcher in the Institute for Democracy, Journalism & Citizenship at Syracuse University, teaching classes in political communication. His research focuses on local news, partisan polarization, and campaign strategy. Darr has co-authored two books: Home Style Opinion: How Local Newspapers Can Slow Polarization (2021) and Storefront Campaigning (2024). He received an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2022 for his project investigating how newspapers can earn trust and reduce polarization. Darr earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.
