Local journalism across the United States is declining, leaving many communities without consistent coverage of local government, education, and civic life. These areas, often described as “news deserts,” have been linked to decreased civic participation, declining trust in the media, and weaker community connections. Research from the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy shows that more than one-fourth of American newspapers have closed, more than half of local journalists have lost their jobs, and over 200 counties no longer have a local newspaper (Ardia et al., 2020). As traditional newspaper coverage shrinks, communities face growing gaps in access to reliable local information. This thesis examines whether community access television can serve as one practical response to these information gaps. Using semi-structured interviews with local journalists, community media leaders, public officials, and residents as its primary methodology, the study explores how community-centered broadcast storytelling may help rebuild civic engagement and trust. The project also includes a six-episode podcast series, Rebuilding Local News, which connects scholarship on news deserts, civic engagement, and media trust with interviews and real-world reporting experiences. Rather than presenting community media as a universal solution, this research argues that public access journalism represents one adaptable strategy that can strengthen local news ecosystems where traditional newspaper coverage has declined. Ultimately, the project suggests that rebuilding local journalism may depend not only on new funding models, but also on collaborative, community-driven storytelling approaches that reconnect residents with their civic lives.