More Than 600 Residents Help Shape Future of Local News in the PA Wilds

More than 600 residents from nine counties across north-central Pennsylvania participated in a regional survey aimed at better understanding how people access local news, what information they trust, and where gaps exist in the region’s news ecosystem.

The survey, conducted by Press Forward PA Wilds, gathered input from residents throughout Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties. The effort was part of a broader listening tour launched earlier this year to better understand the information needs of communities across the region.

“These responses provide an important snapshot of how people stay informed in rural Pennsylvania and the challenges they face in accessing reliable local information,” said Joy Vincent-Killian, director of Press Forward PA Wilds.

Press Forward is a national initiative dedicated to strengthening local news and ensuring communities have access to trusted information. The PA Wilds chapter, is a program at Centre Foundation, is working to identify opportunities to support local journalism and improve access to community information throughout the region.

Survey participants shared insights about where they turn for news, which sources they trust, what topics matter most to them, and how they prefer to receive information. The survey also explored residents’ experiences accessing news during emergencies and public information events, such as weather emergencies, public health notices, and water boil advisories.

The findings reinforce a reality many rural residents know well: access to reliable internet service remains uneven across the region. Throughout the listening tour, residents described ongoing challenges with broadband affordability, slow internet speeds, and limited cellular coverage. Some reported relying on dial-up connections, while others said they must travel from their homes to find a usable cell signal.

Understanding these barriers is critical because access to local news increasingly depends on digital connectivity. Yet in many rural communities, information continues to spread through a combination of traditional media, social media, community organizations, and conversations among neighbors, friends, and family members.

The survey results will help guide future investments and initiatives designed to strengthen local news coverage and improve the flow of trusted information across the PA Wilds. The data will also help identify opportunities to support local news outlets that face ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining reporters in rural communities.

For many residents, local news serves as more than a source of information. It helps connect communities, informs civic participation, and provides critical updates during emergencies. Understanding how people access that information—and where gaps exist—will help shape future efforts to ensure all residents have access to timely, reliable local news.

Press Forward PA Wilds plans to share the findings from the survey in a report later this summer with community members, local news organizations, and regional partners as it develops strategies to strengthen the local information ecosystem across the region.