The number of local journalists per capita in the United States has declined by about 75 percent on average since 2002, according to a report by the nonprofit Rebuild Local News and Muck Rack, an aggregator of journalism bylines.

That includes more than 1,000 counties — about 1 in 3 — that do not have the equivalent of a full-time journalist, according to the report, which attempts to quantify the scale of America’s local news shortage.

Fewer local journalists translates to fewer watchful eyes on school boards, local sports, businesses, town and city government, and other important local institutions, the report said, calling the issue “more severe and widespread than previously thought.”

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