In this special bonus episode of On Assignment, guest host Dr. Leona M. Rios explores one of the most urgent issues in journalism today: the collapse of local news and the rise of informal digital ecosystems filling the void.

From the closure of hundreds of newspapers to the surprising role Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats now play in rural America, this episode uncovers how social media has become both the villain and the unlikely hero in the information landscape. With nuance and wit, Dr. Rios examines the anatomy of a “news desert,” the viral power of misinformation, and the unexpected resilience of community-run news efforts in places like Trinidad, Colorado.

Along the way, she breaks down:

• How local news collapsed—and what took its place
• Why misinformation spreads faster than truth
• The psychological roots of why we share what we share
• How partisan outlets mimic local journalism
• And what we can do—from media literacy to policy reform—to reclaim an informed public

This isn’t just a story about media—it’s a story about democracy, identity, and what it means to stay connected in an age of fragmented truth.

On Assignment is produced by Robert Sterner.

Stay tuned for our next episode: Civic Navigators: Identifying and Supporting Trusted Community Messengers