Who Tells Our Story? A Closer Look at Local Media Coverage, and What’s Missing

By Quinn Bluffs

In an era when local newsrooms are shrinking and partisan narratives dominate national headlines, one question remains especially urgent for smaller communities: Who decides which stories are told and which ones aren’t?

Over the past several months, the 50501 Quincy movement has organized multiple public rallies and community events aimed at raising awareness around political accountability, anti-authoritarianism, and participatory democracy. These events have taken place in highly visible public spaces and were announced in advance to all local media outlets, including KHQA, WGEM, and the Quincy Herald-Whig.

Tracking the Coverage

Despite outreach before each event, local media responses have been uneven:

• KHQA covered a 50501 protest in Quincy’s Washington Park on April 19, 2025, and also mentioned local participation in a nationwide May Day protest on May 1.

• WGEM has reported on 50501 protests in other parts of the country, such as Washington, D.C. and Kentucky, but has not published coverage of Quincy-based events.

• The Quincy Herald-Whig does not appear to have covered any 50501 events in Quincy, despite receiving advance notice of each gathering.

Additionally, Muddy River News, an independent local outlet, published a brief notice about the April 19 rally in advance but did not follow up with event coverage afterward.

Why This Matters

This isn’t about demanding attention, it’s about raising questions. Local news organizations play a powerful role in shaping community awareness and civic discourse. When certain events receive consistent attention - such as high-profile national figures or political narratives aligned with local majorities - while others go unmentioned, it’s fair to ask: What determines editorial priorities?

The 50501 events have drawn consistent attendance, including families, local residents, and grassroots speakers. The lack of coverage raises broader concerns about visibility, neutrality, and the relationship between media and civic movements.

Asking, Not Accusing

To be clear, this article is not a claim of censorship or intentional bias. Editorial decisions are complex, and not every story can be covered. But the pattern is worth noticing, and questioning.

• How do our local media outlets determine what counts as "newsworthy?"

• Are grassroots movements granted the same coverage as institutional voices?

• Do political alignments - explicit or unconscious - play a role in shaping what the public sees?

These aren’t accusations. They’re invitations to reflect on the civic responsibility that media holds in any community.

What Comes Next

As Field Notes 62301 continues to document public dialogue and community action, we will keep tracking who’s listening, and who’s not. Because visibility matters, and a movement that is too well-reasoned to dismiss and too well-documented to deny deserves a place in the local record.