S8 E2: When the News Dies

S8 E2: When the News Dies

From Scene on Radio by Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University

May 27, 2026 · 48 min · Season 8 · Episode 2

About this episode

The episode explores the financial struggles of the journalism industry and its impact on communities and democracy, featuring interviews from a news desert in North Carolina.

Many people know that the journalism industry is struggling financially, especially at the local level. But the disastrous depths of that crisis, and its impact on communities and American democracy, are not as well understood. We visit a news desert in southeastern North Carolina. By John Biewen with co-host Chenjerai Kumanyika. Interviews: Penny Muse Abernathy, Mark DeLap, Angelica Das, and others. Story editor: Diane Hodson. Assistant Producer, Arlene Arevalo. Fact-checking by Anna Pujol Mazzini. Music by Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, Michelle Osis, Lili Haydn, Alex Weston, James Nathan Jones, Goodnight Lucas, and Jason Hill. Music consulting by Joe Augustine of Narrative Music. The Local Journalism Index map discussed in the episode, from Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

People in this episode

Hosts: John Biewen, Chenjerai Kumanyika

Guests: Penny Muse Abernathy, Mark DeLap, Angelica Das

Topics covered

  • journalism
  • local news
  • news deserts
  • American democracy
  • media crisis
  • community impact

Keywords

  • journalism crisis
  • local news
  • news desert
  • community journalism
  • media impact
  • American democracy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Muck Rack, Rebuild Local News, Narrative Music

Places: North Carolina

More episodes of Scene on Radio

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Scene on Radio podcast page.