BISMARCK — Challenges faced by local newspapers across North Dakota could become opportunities if the potentially uncomfortable changes modern news consumers demand are embraced, a new study recently found.

In recent months, the Future of Local News Initiative was launched by the Rural Development Finance Corporation, along with several other groups, to take the pulse of the state of newspapers about what ails print journalism and potential solutions to invigorate the industry.

This included surveying 31 newspaper executives about their challenges, 53 editors and journalists about their work, as well as 381 adults across the state about their news consumption habits and the importance of local news. The initiative is funded by a grant from the Bush Foundation.

“The public has an impre

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