Source NM: NM news desert grows with closure of longtime Gallup newspaper

Feb. 2, 2026

The Independent’s closure comes amid a worsening news landscape in New Mexico, particularly in rural areas and among Indigenous communities. A recent report from the New Mexico Local News Fund found that nearly half of the state’s local news outlets are concentrated in four metropolitan areas. Outside Albuquerque/Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Farmington, news outlets are “overwhelmingly small and under-resourced,” according to the report.

Cibola Citizen: New interactive “New Mexico News Map” Spotlights Cibola County’s local journalism and Where News is Missing Statewide

Dec. 17, 2025

“The map is of great value to New Mexico, a free press is the connective tissue between residents and the institutions that shape daily life – schools, law enforcement, local government, courts, infrastructure, public health, and the many local community organizations that keep this county running.

For Cibola County, it also serves as a reminder that consistent local reporting still takes real labor, real time, and real community backing.”

UCAM: UNM maps media coverage across New Mexico

Dec. 13, 2025

New Mexico news coverage is facing a serious strain, according to the newly released 2025 New Mexico Local News Ecosystem Report. This study found that one-third of New Mexicans report not having access to trustworthy news in their communities, indicating large media deserts across the state.

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Daily Lobo: Most New Mexicans face barriers to local news, report finds

Dec. 8, 2025

Only two-thirds of New Mexico residents say they have access to trustworthy local news, according to a new report by the New Mexico Local News Fund.

Source NM: Researchers map New Mexico’s news deserts

Nov. 28, 2025

Rural counties in New Mexico have scant news coverage of their communities, and Native American and Spanish-speaking residents have few options in their languages. These are just two of the takeaways from a recent in-depth analysis of the state’s news ecosystem, published alongside an interactive local news map.

NM Political Report: Many New Mexicans lack access to “trustworthy local news,” new study finds

Nov. 26, 2025

While most New Mexicans say they value and want more local news, 58% of readers say they have not paid for a subscription or donated to support the outlets they rely on.

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KUNM: New mapping report shows lack of local newsrooms in the state

Nov. 24, 2025

KUNM spoke with project directors Gwyneth Doland, a University of New Mexico Communications and Journalism professor, and former journalism professor Michael Marcotte.

Tri-City Record: New report shows where local news is missing in New Mexico

Nov. 14, 2025

The New Mexico News map and news report reflect the presence of local news in New Mexico, showing where journalism is strongest and where it needs support, according to its creators, former University of New Mexico professor Michael Marcotte and current UNM Journalism professor Gwyneth Doland.