Montana Free Press is excited to announce the launch of Local News Day, a national effort spearheaded by MTFP to reconnect people across the country to local news.
Taking place on April 9, 2026, Local News Day will bring together hundreds of local newsrooms across the country to celebrate the essential role local news and information plays in our everyday lives, from helping people make informed decisions to strengthening community connection and accountability.
Local News Day will connect people directly with the local outlets covering issues that affect their daily lives and encourage them to take part by visiting LocalNewsDay.org.
Local News Day grew out of conversations initiated by John S. Adams, founder of Montana Free Press and newsroom, nonprofit, and civic partners working to strengthen connections between communities and local news.
“This event is about celebrating local news and helping Americans connect with the great newsrooms, from longstanding local institutions to newer digital outlets, that are serving their communities,” Adams said. “As technology changes how people get information, we need new ways to help people stay connected to what’s happening where they live.”
The founders of Local News Day include Montana Free Press, Press Forward, Automattic, Newspack, and WordPress.com. The coalition shares a common goal: connecting people with trusted local outlets and expanding the reach of local newsrooms.
Modeled after Giving Tuesday and National Voter Registration Day, Local News Day is a nationally coordinated effort in which each local partner is encouraged to participate in ways that best serve their community.
Through LocalNewsDay.org, the effort is recruiting and supporting newsrooms and partners nationwide while building new tools to help people find and engage with trusted news sources in their communities.
Interested partners and individuals can submit their email using the form below to stay up-to-date on everything Montana Free Press is doing to celebrate local news in Montana on April 9.