The LWV of White Bear Lake Area examines the Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy. Our first speakers are from the LWV of Washington state who did an extensive study and adopted a position on the matter; because of their study both LWV US and LWV MN have concurred with the LWV Washington position.

Secondly, we have a speaker: Carter Johnson, publisher of Press Publications, who will explain what pressures he faces in maintaining his group of local papers and how he would like to see those pressures addressed.

Third speaker is Charlie Weaver, Co-publisher and Executive Director of MN Daily at the U of MN, who is helping community members in Woodbury develop new strategies to provide local news.

The last speaker is a representative of Press Forward MN, part of a national movement to re-center local journalism as a force for community cohesion, civic participation, and government accountability.