Facebook Wants to Share More Local News but Is Having Trouble Finding It Facebook technicians are facing<br />difficulties with their ‘Today In’<br />service because of an inability<br />to find reporting on a local level. The service was launched<br />in 2018 and is available in<br />400 cities in the United States. It collects news stories<br />from local outlets, community<br />groups and government. 40% of Americans live in places<br />where there isn’t enough local<br />news to support the service. In the last 15 years, over 1,800<br />newspapers have closed in the U.S. Newsroom employment has<br />declined by 45%, partly because<br />of the rise in online reporting. Anne Kornblut, director of news<br />initiatives at Facebook, says the<br />company will offer financial support,<br />rather than take direct action. Anne Kornblut, via NBC News Facebook plans to award<br />100 grants, ranging from<br />$5,000 to $25,000, to individuals<br />that pose a solution to this issue. In January, they also announced<br />a plan to give $300 million in grants<br />to help programs and partnerships<br />focused on boosting local news.
