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CCN 2025 Impact Study Shows Growth In University-Led Community Reporting
New data and mapping illustrate the extraordinary potential for more U.S. colleges to help fill local news gaps
The Center for Community News at UVM annual benchmark study reveals significant growth in university-led reporting programs in 2025. Among the more than 200 news-academic programs across the country, 48 new ones have been initiated since the data was last collected in 2024.
"Colleges of every size are stepping up to help fill critical information gaps in their communities," said CCN Director Richard Watts. "And their students are getting invaluable hands-on experience in the process."
News-academic reporting programs have emerged as one viable solution to the crisis facing local news, and an opportunity for the next generation to engage with their communities. The Center for Community News at UVM is the only organization in the nation tracking the growth of this field and its potential to help reimagine a sustainable future for local journalism.
2025 was a big year for news-academic reporting programs. CCN found that public and Minority Serving Institutions are leading the pack. Other attributes of strong news-academic programs include the presence of experienced faculty-practitioners and statewide collaborations across colleges.
Here are a few key findings from the 2025 data:
- 172 colleges and universities in the U.S. have existing or emerging news-academic partnerships today.
- There are 227 total news-academic programs in existence or emerging (some schools now offer multiple programs).
- There are 48 emerging news-academic programs in 2025, a 27 percent increase over 2024.
- Minority Serving Institutions now run 40 news-academic reporting programs.
- 69 percent of news-academic reporting programs are at public institutions and 31 percent are at private institutions.
The Center for Community News at UVM collected this information through phone interviews, email correspondence and online research between January 2025 and April 2025. A more in-depth analysis of this data will be released in August 2025 at the AEJMC Annual Conference.
Please note, this research is a work in progress and subject to change. If you would like to add your program to our database, fill out this form and we will be in touch. To correct or amend any details in this report, contact Sarah Gamard: scbgamard@gmail.com.