When the local media gets a lot of negative reviews and its existence is questioned, it is interesting to explore the partnerships between local media and parties who provide support in various forms. The relationship may be based on a number of expectations of the partners on the role that can be played by the local media. This study seeks to reveal the meaning of the local media existence from external parties such as local community leaders, pressure groups, and government officials in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The focus of the research is on the form and pattern of partnerships between the local media and the above parties, along with the role of local journalism perceived by these partners. The research data was obtained through a qualitative method with interview techniques to the mentioned sources in 2019 and 2020, followed by observation and document tracing. The results show that each partner established a different partnership pattern with the local media depending on their particular needs and policies. The partnership is based on an assessment of certain roles that are still being carried out by the local media and are expected by these partners. Partners as the external party still view local media as a strategic collaborator at least in assisting the socialization and dissemination of certain programs or information. Some of the informants still rely on the local media and hope that the role played by the local media will improve in the future. Although each of the local media partners has managed their own media, the local media has been considered to hold the public legitimacy.