The site for writers of all genre, and the readers who love them.  Find what you want to know.

The US News Desert Map

Submitted by:  Andrew Olsen, Senior Project Manager
https://growresolve.com/us-news-desert-map/

The US Desert Map
Where local news has thinned out — and where earned media is hardest to come by. Switch between state and county views below.

A shrinking local press, mapped
The United States has lost roughly a third of its newspapers since 2005, and the decline hasn’t slowed. According to Northwestern’s 2025 State of Local News report, 213 counties now have no local news source at all, another 1,524 rely on a single outlet, and about 50 million Americans live with limited or no access to local news.

We built the interactive map below to make that shift tangible. Toggle between the state view and the county view to see where local coverage still exists — and where it has all but disappeared.

Two things to know as you read the map above. Darker areas have the fewest local outlets — those are the coverage gaps. And be honest about the data: it’s shaded from a research dataset that captures roughly 60% of U.S. local outlets, so a county showing zero means “none in this dataset,” not a guaranteed desert. That caveat isn’t a weakness to hide — it’s exactly the kind of source-literacy habit this guide wants you to build. Every dataset has a boundary; good journalists name it.

 

Read the Rest

Using AI Fashion Lookbooks to Storyboard Your Novel’s Emotional Arc

In the world of storytelling, emotional arcs serve as the lifeblood of any compelling narrative. They represent the journey characters undergo, encapsulating their emotional transformations and growth. Emotional arcs are not just about highs and lows; they’re about the nuances that make characters relatable and stories unforgettable. As a writer, understanding these arcs helps you create a resonant narrative that captivates your readers from beginning to end.

Monthly Inspiration

INSPIRATION: A monthly collection of fun or inspiring images collected over the years. They may make you laugh, cry, or get that sudden spark you’ve been looking for.

Ther Sermon Song: A New Genre in Sacred Music

I took notes and turned my notes into notes of song, as I composed a duet which I entitled “Sing to the Lord” ( which has since been published. ) But on the next Sunday, I presented the score to the associate pastor, who is also our choir director, and dedicated it to him. He read it, and on the subsequent Sunday, he arranged for the two of us to sing with his wife accompanying us on the piano.  And thus the sermon song was born.

The Hollywood Screenwriter’s Break-In BluePrint

A Practical Step-by-Step Blueprint for Breaking In to Hollywood. “This book is the only step-by-step guide I’ve read that explains exactly what to do after you finish the script — how to get read, how to get traction, and how to actually break-in. If you’re serious about a career in Hollywood, this book isn’t optional. It’s required.”

Subscribe

Author Ads

Business Ads

Business Ad

Secret Link