<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>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.</p></abstract>

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.

Local Democracy and the Media

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"subtitle":"Can hyperlocals fill the gap?","article-title":"Local Democracy and the Media"}

Local news media in Western countries are undergoing major changes, including cutbacks, centralisation and consolidation. In this study, Sweden has been...

Local Democracy and the Media

Published Online: Oct 16, 2019

Page range: 69 - 83

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2019-0027

Keywords
hyperlocal media, democracy, digital journalism, Sweden, social media

© 2019 Jangdal, L. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Local Democracy and the Media

Published Online: Oct 16, 2019

Page range: 69 - 83

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2019-0027

Keywordshyperlocal media, democracy, digital journalism, Sweden, social media

© 2019 Jangdal, L. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
hyperlocal media, democracy, digital journalism, Sweden, social media