Localnews1.org – Bias and Credibility

Localnews1.org is rated Least biased with High factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.

History

LocalNews1.org is a local digital news publication serving Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Maryland. According to its About page, the publication covers local government, schools, sports, businesses, nonprofits, religious organizations, community events, and other locally focused topics.

LocalNews1.org was founded by Dan DeDona through Local.News LLC. DeDona is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former Washington Township supervisor. In 2026, the Pennsylvania News Association named him one of its Newspaper Heroes of the Year for helping build a local newsroom in an area affected by declining newspaper coverage. LocalNews1 reported that DeDona invested his own resources alongside several private investors to develop the publication.

The site reports that it began operating in 2021 and now employs more than 20 part-time writers covering municipal government, schools, sports, features, and community news. According to DeDona, the publication was created to “collect, vet and distribute” local information as traditional local newspaper coverage declined.

Read our profile on the United States media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

LocalNews1.org is operated by Local.News LLC and was founded by Dan DeDona. DeDona serves as president, while the staff page identifies its news editor, reporters, photographers, business staff, and content coordinators.

Funding comes from advertising, paid subscriptions, and private investment. DeDona has stated that the startup was financed through his own resources and several investors, while ongoing expenses are supported by advertising and $4.99 monthly subscriptions.

Analysis / Bias

LocalNews1.org focuses almost exclusively on local reporting and community information. Its homepage and news categories emphasize municipal government, schools, sports, businesses, nonprofits, health notices, public services, entertainment, and community events rather than national partisan politics.

For example, Leak detection work planned for Sharpsburg water system relies directly on information from the Washington County Department of Water Quality and provides practical information about the dates, purpose, and expected effects of the work.

Likewise, Hamilton Township neighborhoods set for mosquito spraying provides detailed public-health information from Franklin County’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Program, including the treatment area, product used, application rate, timing, and contact information for the county specialist.

The publication also incorporates public records directly into its coverage. For example, its property-transfer database identifies information obtained from the Franklin County Register & Recorder’s Office and LANDEX and clearly labels the limitations of those records.

Political commentary is limited. The publication’s About page specifically states that it does not publish “political rants and attacks.” Some columns and commentary do reflect traditional or conservative perspectives. For example, a column titled A Season of Thanks by DeDona emphasizes individual rights, religious freedom, the Constitution, and American exceptionalism. Another commentary, What the Founders would say now, discusses constitutional government and political polarization.

DeDona previously served as a Republican local elected official. However, ownership politics alone do not determine MBFC ratings, and we found little evidence that Republican or conservative viewpoints systematically influence the site’s local news reporting or story selection.

In general, LocalNews1.org uses neutral language and relies heavily on local government agencies, public records, schools, businesses, community organizations, and firsthand reporting. Its limited commentary shows a modest traditional or right-leaning perspective, but the primary news operation remains nonpartisan.

Failed Fact Checks

• None to date

Overall, we rate LocalNews1.org Least Biased with a slight rightward tendency based on limited commentary that reflects traditional and conservative viewpoints, while its primary local news coverage remains neutral and nonpartisan. We rate it High for factual reporting due to strong reliance on local government agencies, public records, named sources, transparent newsroom staffing, and a clean fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 09/12/2026)

Source: https://localnews1.org/

Last Updated on September 12, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check

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