This is one of a series of articles and videos on the June 2017 conference “Is no local news bad news? Local journalism and its future” hosted by the Ryerson Journalism Research Centre. Watch the full conference panel below. To read more about the conference and local news, visit:  localnews.journalism.ryerson.ca. By JASMINE BALA Staff reporter Local news matters because it fosters debate, instigates major social change and connects community members, participants at a recent conference on the future of local news were told. “Does Local News Matter? Tales from the Trenches” offered four perspectives on the impact local journalism can…