> The local news isn’t an intrinsically valuable product, that’s why it is often subsidized or paid for by people who are paying to get a message in front of yo

> The local news isn’t an intrinsically valuable product, that’s why it is often subsidized or paid for by people who are paying to get a message in front of you (advertisers). This is a myopic take that ignores externalities. Local news has significant positive externalities: better informed citizens (important for a democracy), anti-corruption effects, etc.