It is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain the functions of local media, which have long underpinned regional democracy, contributed to residents’ safety and security, fostered civic autonomy, and enriched everyday life. The organizations that support local media—local newspapers, regional broadcasters, cable TV (CATV) providers, and community FM stations—are facing severe and structural management challenges. While new region-specific portal sites and individual media outlets have emerged online, their organizational maturity and financial sustainability as media institutions remain limited.

In the United States, the rapid disappearance of local newspapers has given rise to so-called “news deserts.” In Japan, similar concerns are growing over widening regional information gaps and the resulting “disparities in life,” particularly in situations where disaster information fails to reach affected communities. At the same time, expectations for the role of local media are rising, especially in addressing challenges associated with population decline, an aging society, and increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. The key question is: what measures are needed to sustain and evolve the functions of local media in the years ahead?

This study provides a cross-sectoral overview of the current state of regional media in Japan. It then examines policy directions along four dimensions: “public-private partnerships” with local governments, “institutional support” through policy frameworks, “voluntary initiatives” by media organizations, and “community-led restructuring” of local media systems. Building on this analysis, the study seeks to propose a comprehensive roadmap for revitalizing regional media—defining their proactive roles in solving community challenges and reimagining local society in an era of population decline.