With local coverage and civic engagement in decline in U.S. cities, outlets are experimenting with new ways to fund journalism Even in the best of times, covering Southern California news required a form of journalistic triage. It?s an extensive territory?there are 88 cities in Los Angeles County alone?filled with strange political fiefdoms, competing power centers, overlapping cultures, and the intoxicating draw of celebrity gossip. Any publication attempting to keep the public informed and engaged was bound to miss stories on the margins.
As many media observers would agree, this is not the best of times. Like other U.S. metro areas, Los Angeles has experienced a dramatic thinning of its journalistic ranks, one that?s left local press bereft of reporters and resources, and local stories uncovered and untold. ?I?m really seeing the fallout from losing essential voices in a market the size of LA,? says Mara Shalhoup, the former editor of LA Weekly, a pioneering alt-weekly that saw its staff slashed, Shalhoup included, after a secretive group of new owners reorganized the business last fall. ?It?s not easy to dig up new information. It?s easy to report on what other people are talking about. It?s more echo-chambery than ever, and that?s not a good thing.?

We were expecting there to be some pain with the sale of @LAWeekly. But we weren't expecting the Red Wedding. That's how deep the cuts are. 1/? Mara Shalhoup (@mshalhoup) November 29, 2017

Since last fall, Los...