The Changing Role of the Local News Media in Enabling Citizens to Engage in Local Democracies

Firmstone, Julie; Coleman, Stephen

doi:10.1080/17512786.2014.895516

“…In the United Kingdom, a study by Firmstone and Coleman (2014) looked at how hyperlocal sites have enabled citizens to engage in local democracies, due to the changing role of local news media, digital maturity and the engagement strategies of local governments. Interviews reveal that hyperlocal news sites engage the public in a totally different way with the input of professional journalists and news organisations, in terms of specific local areas and issues.…”

Section: Hyperlocals and Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Earlier research (Baker, 2007;Firmstone & Coleman, 2014;Gandour, 2016;Habermas, 1989;Nord & Strömbäck, 2004) pointed to how the lack of media coverage is ultimately a question of democracy, and that media centralisation poses problems for public dialogue. Journalism is essential for the exercise of freedom of speech and opinion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local Democracy and the Media

Jangdal

¹

2019

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Local news media in Western countries are undergoing major changes, including cutbacks, centralisation and consolidation. In this study, Sweden has been scanned to map the presence of digital hyperlocal media and to investigate which online channels of communication they offer their readers, in order to determine their set-up for democratic functions. The results reveal that very few hyperlocals are positioned in rural areas; instead, the majority of them favour metropolitan or urban municipalities. The hyperlocal media presence on social networks is limited to a few platforms, and about half of the hyperlocals offer commentary fields on their news sites. As the democratic structure varies, coupled with the fact that hyperlocals favour high-density population municipalities where traditional media already exist, this study indicates that the democracy dialogue in the local public sphere may be at risk.

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“…Both inhabitants and various stakeholders, such as local councils, have lost their channel of information. Firmstone and Coleman (2014) point out that the news media have changed from a model of regular face-to-face contact with local representatives and represented communities, as well as attendance at council meetings, to a reliance on press releases and an 'as and when necessary' approach to direct reporting on the democratic process. The perceived lack of news monitoring can be one of the reasons for local authorities to establish their own ways of communication with the community.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The extensive production of PR subsidies and the reliance of the news media on such subsidies has resulted in a debate about the difference between 'news' as a PR activity and 'news' based on the principle of free access to sources and professional judgement of relevance and factuality by news organizations (Allern, 2015). A study by Firmstone and Coleman (2014) discusses how the growing professionalism of the PR industry makes journalists' jobs easier in terms of accessing information, but harder when trying to access the sources behind stories, due to the policy of the studied council to filter all communications.…”

Section: Relationship Between Pr and Journalism: A Matter Of Trustwormentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyperlocal Journalism and PR: Diversity in Roles and Interactions

Jangdal

¹

,

Cepaite-Nilsson

²

,

Stúr

³

2019

(OBS*)

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Hyperlocal media has repeatedly been framed as a potential saviour of local journalism, but the democratic and civic role that often is ascribed to hyperlocals is not obvious or uncomplicated. The hyperlocals' vulnerable economic situation makes them dependent on free content, for example material produced by local councils or organizations. This paper investigates the role of hyperlocal media entrepreneurs and their interaction with local councils and other stakeholders. We examine how the hyperlocal media entrepreneurs supply their communities with news in places of a media void, and how they perceive their role in their communities. Findings from this qualitative study show that the media entrepreneurs view their news production as an important part of the local community. They provide a forum for debate and information for citizens, local governments and organizations. Their service also includes a channel for local events relevant for the community. The interactions with the local governments vary, as well as the hyperlocal entrepreneurs' evaluation of how the information provided by the councils can or should be handled. The relation between hyperlocal media entrepreneurs and local governments is a complex process, including both interrelated and contradictory goals.

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“…The extensive production of PR subsidies and the reliance of the news media on such subsidies has resulted in a debate about the difference between 'news' as a PR activity and 'news' based on the principle of free access to sources and professional judgement of relevance and factuality by news organizations (Allern, 2005). A study by Firmstone and Coleman (2014) discusses how the growing professionalism of the PR industry makes journalists' jobs easier in terms of accessing information, but harder when trying to access the sources behind stories, due to the policy of the studied council to filter all communications.…”

Section: Relationship Between Pr and Journalism: A Matter Of Trustwormentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyperlocal Journalism and PR: Diversity in Roles and Interactions

Stúr

¹

,

Jangdal

²

,

Nilsson³

2018

(OBS*)

2

0

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Hyperlocal media has repeatedly been framed as a potential saviour of local journalism, but the democratic and civic role that often is ascribed to hyperlocals is not obvious or uncomplicated. The hyperlocals' vulnerable economic situation makes them dependent on free content, for example material produced by local councils or organizations. This paper investigates the role of hyperlocal media entrepreneurs and their interaction with local councils and other stakeholders. We examine how the hyperlocal media entrepreneurs supply their communities with news in places of a media void, and how they perceive their role in their communities. Findings from this qualitative study show that the media entrepreneurs view their news production as an important part of the local community. They provide a forum for debate and information for citizens, local governments and organizations. Their service also includes a channel for local events relevant for the community. The interactions with the local governments vary, as well as the hyperlocal entrepreneurs' evaluation of how the information provided by the councils can or should be handled. The relation between hyperlocal media entrepreneurs and local governments is a complex process, including both interrelated and contradictory goals.

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The Changing Role of the Local News Media in Enabling Citizens to Engage in Local Democracies

Cited by 44 publications

References 11 publications

Local Democracy and the Media

Local Democracy and the Media

Hyperlocal Journalism and PR: Diversity in Roles and Interactions

Hyperlocal Journalism and PR: Diversity in Roles and Interactions

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