Harvard professor Jonas Heese and colleagues conducted a study on the impact of local newspaper closures on white-collar crime in the USA. The study found that after a local newspaper closes, there is a 1.1% increase in legal violations by listed companies, along with a more than 15% increase in associated fines. Heese explained that local newspapers serve as watchdogs, and their absence allows companies to engage in more serious violations with less public awareness and accountability.