From reporting on workers negotiating for healthcare benefits to profiling a food truck to sharing the stories of local agriculture, journalists in our state cover it all.
Independent local newsrooms provide the information we need to stay connected and informed. They fact check, they talk to multiple people, and they go see what’s happening on the ground.
Although the ProgressNow NM team is often focused on politics and policy, we recognize these newsrooms go way beyond that. They share stories that matter, from local events to community issues that affect our daily lives.
In many ways, they are the heartbeat of our communities. And as AI slop increasingly ruins popular online platforms, the role of local journalism is only becoming more important.
Fortunately, in New Mexico there’s been a resurgence of independent and homegrown local newsrooms and reporters who are accountable and connected to our communities.
Below are some of our favorites (this is not an exhaustive list!) – we hope you’ll sign up for email alerts, follow them on social media, and make a donation or become a paid subscriber.
Statewide
- Searchlight NM – does deep dives on local stories from across the state, including public safety, renewable energy, education, and the environment
- NM Political Report – all things politics, policy, and local government, with a focus on reproductive health, elections, and the environment
- National Native News / Native Voice One – led by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, Native/Indigenous owned media, this radio and podcast platform broadcasts across NM and online, covering policy, local issues, government accountability, and arts and culture
- New Mexico In Depth – stories on policy, local government, elections, and how power moves
- Source New Mexico – consistently provides broad and deep coverage on the environment, public safety, healthcare, education, and local government
- Albuquerque Journal – local and statewide coverage of state and local government, arts and culture, and the environment (*we recommend following newsroom coverage but not articles from their editorial board)
- KUNM News – an National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate in partnership with UNM: radio, podcasts, and digital news based in Albuquerque but covering all of New Mexico, including a range of topics from the environment to politics/local government to culture and society
- Generation Justice – by, for, and with youth is the focus of this 20+ years strong local news radio show and podcast that covers media justice, policy, arts, and the economy from a community building lens
- Capital & Main – dedicated coverage of economics, oil & gas, and the environment in New Mexico
- New Mexico Jewish Journal – covers news, arts, culture and spirituality, with aim of celebrating and informing vibrant and diverse Jewish communities across the state and region
- NM News – part of the larger set of local newspapers, they also provide statewide coverage on policy, government, and culture
- Public News Service NM – covering current affairs incl. education, healthcare, public safety, and government across the state, with stories in English and some in Spanish
- Santa Fe New Mexican – first published in 1849, the oldest newspaper in the West, covers a range of local news as well as state wide coverage on local development, arts and culture, and government accountability
- Southwest Contemporary – around in one form or another since 1992, this publication covers arts news and maintains a vibrant arts calendar for the state
Western New Mexico
- Cibola Citizen – covering local news, environment, and state policy impacts across Cibola County
- Navajo Times – covering local issues, events, and arts and culture in/around the Navajo Nation since 1959
- Tri-City Record – covering northwest New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, the Farmington Times was previously a daily newspaper and had been acquired/operated by Gannet Media from 2015-2023 before being purchased by regional news company Ballantine Communications and merged with the Tri-City Record
- Gallup Sun – alt-weekly style coverage of local issues, arts and culture, and events
- Deming Headlight – covers sports, business, and local issues in both print and digital formats
- Silver City Daily Press – covers a range of local issues including government accountability, education, and the economy
Eastern New Mexico
- KENW Public News – based at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, KENW is a PBS and NPR affiliate and covers a range of local news including arts, culture, and local government
- Las Vegas Optic – originally founded in 1879, was purchased by the O’Rourke Media Group in 2021 and covers local news, policy, and events in Mora and San Miguel counties
- Uplands Uplifting News – based in Mora, this publication covers local events and issues
- KRTN Radio – based in Raton, over the air coverage of local events and issues, as well as publishing stories online
Southern New Mexico
- Organ Mountain News – covering Dońa Ana County, Organ Mountain News is locally owned and operated by award winning journalist Damien Willis, formerly of the LC Sun News
- KRWG Public Media – PBS and NPR affiliate station in partnership with NMSU, covering Southern NM with broadcast radio and online stories across a variety of topics
- El Defensor Chieftain – covering a range of topics for Socorro County, including education, economy, and local policy
- Southern NM Journalism Collaborative – stories researched and written by multiple newsrooms/reporters, often does deeper dives on topics that are under-reported
- Las Cruces Bulletin – local news covering a range of topics, including arts, culture, local government, and sports
- Gila/Mimbres Community Radio – music, podcasts, local news, and arts and culture are all part of the lineup for this volunteer based community radio station in Silver City
- KTAL Las Cruces Community Radio – public affairs and local issues programming along with arts, culture, and music
- Cloudcroft Reader – covers range of local news including policy, government accountability, and the environment
- Alamogordo Town News – arts, culture, local government, and events are all part of their regular publishing schedule
- El Paso Matters – while based in TX, this journalist owned and operated newsroom also covers immigration and related issues in/around the Doña Ana County region
- Working Class Storytelling – while this independent writer founded project isn’t solely about New Mexico, the author has visited in person and written about local people inspiring building connection and community in Alamogordo, Roswell, and Chaves County
Northern New Mexico
- Taos News – covering the area in/around Taos with stories on housing, business, state policy, and the environment
- Green Fire Times – founded in 2009, covers agriculture, sustainable business, and the environment in a bi-monthly magazine format
- Santa Fe New Mexican – first published in 1849, the oldest newspaper in the West, covers a range of local news as well as state wide coverage on local development, arts and culture, and government accountability
- Santa Fe Reporter – the City Different’s local alternative newspaper since 1974, covering arts and culture, local issues, and breaking news
- Abiquiu News – covers local news, policy, and issues as well as arts, culture and events in the region
- Questa Del Rio News – published by the Questa Economic Development Fund, covers local issues, policy, events, and arts and culture
- Boomtown Los Alamos – part of a newer trend of newsletter based local news, covers policy, local issues, and features stories
- 505OMatic – originally launched as video based local news with presence on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, covers a range of topics in/around Santa Fe including arts and culture, local development, and policy
Central New Mexico
- City Desk ABQ – part of the NM News organization, covers Albuquerque metro area including affordable housing, public safety, and local government
- UpLift Chronicles – monthly publication featuring stories on education, healthcare, policy, and local businesses, with a focus on Albuquerque’s International District
- Mountainair Dispatch – events, policy, and local government coverage from independent local journalist Todd Brogowski
- Downtown Albuquerque News (DAN) – newsletter that covers policy, people, arts and culture, and issues at a hyper local level
- Nob Hill News – this sibling publication to DAN is a recent addition but is growing quickly and takes a similar approach to coverage
- The Daily Lobo – UNM’s student led newspaper since 1895, covering arts, culture, and student affairs, as well as policy and issues related to education, economy, and the environment
- Albuquerque Journal – local and statewide coverage of state and local government, arts and culture, and the environment
- The Edgewood Independent – part of the NM News organization, covers policy, local government, and events in/around Edgewood
- Corrales Comment – part of the NM News organization, covers local issues, arts and culture, and events at a hyper local level
- Sandoval Signpost – part of the NM News organization, covers local issues, events, and culture in/around Sandoval County and Rio Rancho
- The Paper ABQ – alt-weekly style coverage of goings on and local issues in the Albuquerque metro area