As local news deserts continue to expand across the United States, students in Appalachian State University’s Digital Journalism capstone course are stepping in to help fill the gap. Led by Dr. Twange Kasoma in the Department of Communication, the course has implemented a service‑learning model that connects students with regional media outlets to strengthen community news coverage in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties.
According to the State of Local News 2025 Report there are 1,525 counties with only one local news source remaining and nearly 50 million Americans now live with limited or no access to local journalism. This growing crisis provided the backdrop for a semester‑long project designed to give students real‑world reporting experience while supporting local information needs.
To address the challenge, the capstone class partnered with Mountain Times Publications and High Country Radio, enabling students to produce and publish community news stories across multiple platforms. Students also launched a new radio segment, Campus of Connection, which they curated for High Country Radio as part of the course’s multimedia emphasis.
A highlight of the semester included an in‑class press conference with Boone Mayor Dalton George on March 4, 2026. The in‑class press conference informed students’ news stories giving them firsthand experience with political reporting, interviewing and deadline‑driven writing.
Read the students’ stories in Watauga Democrat and listen to their radio show on High Country Radio.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Kasoma plans to expand the project into a signature component of the Digital Journalism program. Future goals include developing a comprehensive e‑portfolio of student reporting, using that portfolio to pursue additional funding, and building national collaborations with other academic institutions committed to addressing news deserts.
With students at the center, the project demonstrates how service‑learning can strengthen both journalism education and local communities.
Students sit in classroom viewing two speakers: Dr. Twange Kasoma and Mayor Dalton George
