In today’s polarized, fractured information ecosystem, Americans receive health communication from a vast array of messengers and platforms. Whether about COVID-19 or vaccines, people seek and learn health information and news from increasingly diverse digital and traditional sources. Not all sources are equally trusted or trustworthy, however. Most Americans value local news and local journalists, for example. At the same time, among young adults under 30, nearly 4 in 10 get news from social media influencers. In this session, we will set the stage with a presentation of nationally representative data on trends in Americans’ trust in science, as well as their diverse news sources. Then, in a moderated conversation, we will discuss the opportunities and challenges for health communication delivered by these two important information sources: social media influencers and local health journalists. Discussants will bring their perspectives as a Washington, DC-area local health reporter and applied public health researcher leveraging social media influencers to disseminate evidence-based health information.