The Quarterly Focus - June 2026

Lindsay LaPlante
2 hours ago
2 min read

Lincoln County League Members Support Local Information Study

Members of the League of Women Voters of Lincoln County recently partnered with the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication on a community information project focused on how Lincoln County residents access, evaluate, and use local information.

As part of the project, League members helped design, distribute, and promote a countywide survey and participated in two community forums. The project gathered 787 validated survey responses, included in-depth virtual interviews, and hosted public listening sessions in Newport and Lincoln City. The resulting report offers a detailed look at how residents stay informed and where stronger civic information systems are needed.

The report found that Lincoln County residents are engaged and motivated but that the local information system is fragmented. Residents often rely on a mix of local journalism, public media, government communication, social media, community bulletin boards, neighbors, and word of mouth. The report also identified several areas of concern, including emergency communication, uneven geographic coverage, barriers for Spanish-speaking residents and young people, and the need for more trusted, timely, and representative local information.

The study’s recommendations include building a coordinated county information directory, strengthening emergency communication systems, supporting transparent local journalism, expanding civic accountability coverage, recognizing informal community information networks, and improving multilingual access and youth engagement.

This work reflects the League’s long-standing commitment to civic participation, public trust, and access to reliable nonpartisan information. By supporting this project, Lincoln County League members helped elevate resident voices and contribute to a stronger foundation for civic life in their community.

The full report, Community Perspectives on Lincoln County’s Information Ecosystem, is available through the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon.