The Routledge Companion to Local Media and Journalism

Description

This comprehensive edited collection provides key contributions in the field, mapping out fundamental topics and analysing current trends through an international lens. Offering a collection of invited contributions from scholars across the world, the volume is structured in seven parts, each exploring an aspect of local media and journalism. It brings together and consolidates the latest research and theorisations from the field, and provides fresh understandings of local media from a comparative perspective and within a global context. This volume reaches across national, cultural, technological and socio-economic boundaries to bring new understandings to the dominant foci of research in the field and highlights interconnection and thematic links. Addressing the significant changes local media and journalism have undergone in the last decade, the collection explores the history, politics, ethics and contents of local media, as well as delving deeper into the business and practices that affect not only the journalists and media-makers involved, but consumers and communities as well. For students and researchers in the fields of journalism studies, journalism education, cultural studies, and media and communications programmes, this is the comprehensive guide to local media and journalism. Cover Half title Title page Copyright page Dedication Table of contents Figures Tables Contributors Acknowledgements Introduction: Demarcating the field of local media and journalism Conceptualising the field Defining features of local media Geo socio-political context Relationship with the community Position in macro media ecosystems Key themes in contemporary research on local media and journalism Sustainability Subsidies and state interventions Local news deserts Professionalism Signposts to further research Structure of the book References Part I Histories and legacies of local media and journalism 1 Historicising the afterlife: Local newspapers in the United Kingdom and the ‘art of prognosis’ Introduction The utility of history to understanding the local newspaper Provincial newspaper: community servant or shareholder powerhouse? ‘Potholes’: what trips us up, what changes, what stays the same? Conclusion: the ‘art of prognosis’, looking back to look forward Notes References 2 A history of the local newspaper in Japan Introduction The birth of Japanese newspapers (1850–1900) The establishment of modern Japanese newspapers (1900–1930) Newspaper suppression during the War Years (1930–1945) Democratization of society and high economic growth (1945–1980) Newspapers in the age of diversified media (1980–2010) Contemporary issues and tensions (2010–present) Conclusion References 3 Local news deserts in Brazil: Historical and contemporary perspectives Introduction Historical development of local press in Brazil Local press in contemporary Brazil The Atlas da Notícia (News Atlas) project Conclusion References 4 A history of local media in Norway Introduction What are local media? Voicing political, economic and cultural interests, 1880–1940 Decentralisation, dealignment and de-monopolisation, 1945–1995 Digitisation and the contemporary local media structure, 1995–2020 Conclusion References 5 State of play: Local media, power and society in the Caribbean Introduction A history of power imbalances: the influence of colonialism Historical development of media in the Caribbean Journalism and media freedom in the Caribbean Local and community media in the Caribbean Caribbean media cultures Conclusion References 6 ‘Peopleization’ of news: The development of the American local television news format Introduction History of television news in the United States “Peopleization” of news begins with Eyewitness News and Action News Vocal critics Conclusion References Part II Local media policies 7 The death of broadcast localism in the United States Introduction The definition of localism The origins of localism Localism regulation Early attempts Ascertainment requirements Ownership Trump’s FCC and Sinclair Conclusion Notes References 8 Developing local media policies in sub-state nations: The case of Catalonia Introduction A framework to explore local media policies Understanding the political system Media policy-making Local media policies in Catalonia Local press Local radio Local television Local media outlets online Conclusion References 9 Local journalism in Australia: Policy debates Introduction Local news context A shake-up of media ownership regulation and key policy debates The role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at the local level Preserving public interest journalism at the local level Competition policy A note on subsidies Conclusion Notes References 10 The development of community broadcasting legislation in Kenya Introduction The beginnings: broadcast for modernization Rethinking broadcasting and community broadcasting New pressures, new players Accreditation and community broadcasters Analyzing community broadcasting legislation Negotiating community media legislation Conclusion Notes References 11 Local media policies in Poland: Key issues and debates Introduction Local government press Local media policies ‘Authorisation’ Correction notice Article 212 of the Polish Criminal Code Local relations and ethical journalistic standards Conclusion Notes References 12 The impact of communication policies in local television models: The cases of Catalonia and Scotland Introduction The communicative space of local television Local television in Catalonia: a community-created model Local television in Scotland: a network and commercial model Conclusions Notes References Part III Local media, publics and politics 13 Local journalism in the United States: Its publics, its problems, and its potentials Introduction Local journalism: what it is and why it matters Research on local journalism in the United States Populism, politics, and local journalism Conclusion: paths forward References 14 Remediating the local through localised news making: India’s booming multilingual press as agent in political and social change Introduction Mediated grassroots politics and the transformation of India’s party landscape The new local of the newspaper supplement Conclusion Notes References 15 De-professionalization and fragmentation: Challenges for local journalism in Sweden Introduction A newspaper country Digital transformation and local media landscape Local journalism and local politics Local audiences and the local network society Conclusions Note References 16 Central and local media in Russia: Between central control and local initiatives Introduction Russian regional media: a variety of historic models Transforming the state pressure concept in a new regional model after 2000 Functions of local media and the dynamics of change Conclusion Notes References 17 The return of party journalism in China and ‘Janusian’ content: The case of Newspaper X Introduction Chinese local newspapers and journalism: the 40-year orbit of development The case of Newspaper X Background Brief notes about methods The findings of content analysis What has happened? Conclusion Notes References 18 Strategy over substance and national in focus?: Local television coverage of politics and policy in the United States Introduction Why local TV is poised to be important Why strategic coverage dominates substance in news and why it matters The nationalized focus of public affairs on local television coverage Conclusion: implications for democracy Notes References 19 From journal of record to the 24/7 news cycle: Perspectives on the changing nature of court reporting in Australia Introduction Interviews and methodology Role, importance and impact of court reporting Changes to court reporting Resources Education and experience Story selection Impact of technology on media environment Conclusion References Part IV Ownership and sustainability of local media 20 Business and ownership of local media: An international perspective Introduction: economic considerations of the ‘local news crisis’ Local news: one size does not fit all Legacy media’s retraction from local journalism ‘Hyperlocal’ media and the digital divide Ownership: style over substance? ‘Community connector’ as a business model, not just a slogan References 21 Local media owners as saviours in the Czech Republic: They save money, not journalism Introduction Media ownership (change) matters Owners as saviours Journalists’ perception of media owners Czech local media owners Methodology Results RQ1: perception of the previous owner’s role RQ2: Impact of the change of ownership on journalists’ understanding of the owner’s role RQ3: Impact of the changing ownership on journalistic autonomy Conclusions References 22 What can we learn from independent family-owned local media groups?: Case studies from the United Kingdom Introduction What do we mean by independent family-owned media organisations? What were the traditional business models for local media? How do we investigate the impact of independent ownership in local media companies? Company data Observational data Interviews What impact does independent ownership have on the management of local media? Can the independent newspaper group remain sustainable? References 23 Local media in France: Subsidized, heavily regulated and under pressure Introduction The business model of French regional and local media Regional and local press Local radio and TV Highly regulated and concentrated markets Regional and local press Local radio and TV Troubled business models Ownership of French regional and local media Print press: regional and local dailies and weeklies Local dailies Local weeklies Local TV markets Local radio stations Digital local media Conclusion References 24 ‘I’ve started a hyperlocal, so now what?’ Introduction Local news Hyperlocals Business models Sustainability Conclusion: impact of ownership References 25 The hyperlocal ‘renaissance’ in Australia and New Zealand Introduction Contextualising hyperlocal journalism in Australia and New Zealand Case study 1: Backstory Case study 2: Mapping Frictions Case study 3: Neighbourly Conclusion References Part V Local journalists and journalistic practices 26 At the crossroads of hobby, community work and media business: Nordic and Russian hyperlocal practitioners Introduction Three contexts from the global North: Finland, Sweden and Russia The data and analysis Hyperlocal media in Finland, Sweden and Russia Authorship Original local content Community engagement and political participation Conclusion References 27 Not all doom and gloom: The story of American small-market newspapers Introduction State of the industry Literature review The value to democracy Value to community Value to media ecosystems Methods Theme 1: new revenue models Theme 2: digital and revenue experimentation Theme 3: the mission of local journalism Challenges and conclusion References 28 Local journalism in Bulgaria: Trends from the Worlds of Journalism study Introduction Journalism in Bulgaria: key developments Methodology Local journalism in Bulgaria: trends Conclusion References 29 Specialised training of local journalists in armed conflict: The Colombian experience Introduction Colombian training to professionalise local conflict journalists Comparing two key training programmes Raising awareness about professionalism Conclusion Notes References 30 From community to commerce?: Analytics, audience ‘engagement’ and how local newspapers are renegotiating news values ... Introduction Clicks, pageviews and the rise of analytics in the online press Reading the runes and promoting the popular: analytics-driven news lists Sub-audience targeting and segmentation Follow-ups and added value Social media as shop window The journalist-adperson hybrid: tagging, video and other monetizing newsroom practices Reinforcing the ‘wall’? Resisting role mergers and putting pageviews in their place Conclusion References 31 Two-tier tweeting: How promotional and personalised use of twitter is shaping local journalistic practices in the United Kingdom Introduction Reach replaces circulation and suspicion Two-tier practices Promotional traditionalists Brand, personalisation and the personal Conclusion References 32 Centralised and digitally disrupted: An ethnographic view of local journalism in New Zealand Introduction Local news in New Zealand Method Case study: the regional desk Interaction 1: getting a reporter to the scene Interaction 2: the reporter’s notes Filing the story Summary and conclusion Appendix 32.1 References 33 Situating journalistic coverage: A practice theory approach to researching local community radio production in the ... Introduction A practice theory perspective Defining journalistic practice in local radio Methodological orientation Conducting practice as a research method Ethnographic fieldwork Researching Talk of the Town Desk research on local community radio The practice-based element: Remarkable Harpenden on Nickey Radio Participant observation in Radio Verulam and four snapshot studies Findings Conclusion Notes References Part VI Communities and audiences of local news 34 What does the audience experience as valuable local journalism?: Approaching local news quality from a user’s perspective Introduction What counts as valuable local journalism from a user perspective? Which topics deserve more attention? Which values and approaches are appreciated by local news users? 1. Reciprocity and audience responsivity as core practices 2. Learning about the area 3. Stories from within: holding the community together and recognizing difference 4. Facilitating local orientation: important, findable and connected news 5. Honouring complexity: providing a layered and ‘realist’ representation of the region Conclusion Notes References 35 Local journalism and at-risk communities in the United States Introduction Method Identifying local media outlets Content archiving Content analysis Community characteristic variables Results Multivariate analyses Conclusion Notes References 36 The emerging deficit: Changing local journalism and its impact on communities in Australia Introduction: local journalism – a focus of concern Our case studies Broadmeadows: disadvantaged urban fringe Byron Bay: sophisticated and active Moree: remote and disparate Newcastle: local reporting, national effect Conclusion Note References 37 Strength in numbers: Building collaborative partnerships for data-driven community news Introduction Data journalism as collaborative craft Community-based data storytelling Translating data across the community Conclusion: prospects for collaborative data partnerships Acknowledgement References 38 Bottom-up hyperlocal media in Belgium: Facebook groups as collaborative neighborhood awareness systems Introduction Method Results The local online group as a local social news stream Functioning of the local online group in the neighborhood’s communication infrastructure Conclusion References 39 Local news repertoires in a transforming swedish media landscape Introduction Theoretical perspectives on news consumption The Swedish context Method Findings Conclusion Note References 40 The what, where, and why of local news in the United States Introduction What is in local news? Where is local news consumed? Why do people consume local news? Conclusion References Part VII Local media and the public good 41 Local media and disaster reporting in Japan Introduction Local media in Japan: an overview Japanese local media and disaster reporting Natural disasters Industrial disasters The earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster of 2011 Increasing significance of localized information on social networks during disasters Conclusions and outlook Note References 42 Public service journalism and engagement in US hyperlocal nonprofits Introduction Public journalism Digitally native news nonprofits Method Findings Engage the community through open dialogue Influence over news agendas More understandable Galvanize the community Conclusion References 43 Local public service media in Northern Ireland: The merit goods argument Introduction Northern Ireland: social, economic and political context Local media: PSM, democracy and the public sphere Decline of the local press Broadcast media in Northern Ireland Language policy and public broadcasting, 1998–2018 Minority-language provision in broadcasting PSM provision for local news and minority-language provision: the merit goods argument Conclusion References 44 Participation in local radio agricultural broadcasts and message adoption among rural farmers in Northern Ghana Introduction The objectives of the study Local radio and agricultural innovations communication Hypotheses Methodology Findings and discussions Respondents’ socio-economic characteristics Radio listenership Farmers’ participation in radio agricultural programmes Farmers’ understanding of agricultural innovations broadcast on radio Adoption of agricultural innovations Farmers’ suggestions to make agricultural programmes more impactful Testing hypotheses Hypothesis 1 Hypothesis 2 Conclusion and recommendations References 45 Pacific Islanders’ Talanoa values and public support point the way forward Introduction Diversity and fragmentation A region under pressure The pacific media landscape and challenges Media provision and digital development Journalism education Media freedom News reporting style, standards and focus Drawing on local values and cultures What is to be done? Problems Conclusion Note References 46 Alternative journalism, alternative ethics? Introduction: the relationship between producer and audience An alternative approach to ethics Ethics and representation in local alternative media Alternative journalism as active citizenship Conclusion: a vital part of ‘the news ecology’ References Index