Local, small-town media outlets, such as weekly newspapers, provide valuable news and information for their communities. In many instances, the newspaper serves as a binding agent that keeps local citizens together by building social capital (Nah & Yamamoto, 2019; Siisiainen, 2003). However, this role changes with access to digital media (Collier, Dunaway, & Stroud, 2021; Firmstone & Coleman, 2014) and the onslaught of mis- and disinformation swirling throughout the information ecosystem (Gaultney, Sherron, & Boden, 2022).
Individuals can consume news and entertainment anytime and anywhere thanks to technology. This content can come from any source they choose. However, community news might be left out of the equation if a local media outlet lacks a robust online presence because a community’s communicative resources, which are key for building community and spurring collective action (Kim & Ball-Rokeach, 2006), can be limited by access to technology.
This is the digital divide, which describes inequalities of access to the internet, lack of opportunities to get online, and missing digital skills necessary to use the web (Hargittai, 2003; van Dijk & Hacker, 2003). Community media outlets experiencing such access gaps could find themselves unable to adequately connect with their news sources and consumers. This could cause outlets to close, leaving voids in those communities that result in no local news coverage at all and provide fertile ground for misinformation to take root. These are news deserts, and they threaten democracy (Abernathy, 2018). Therefore, understanding how small-town journalists keep their communities informed in the face of mis- and disinformation is vitally important.
As such, this study aims to understand the technologies and practices used by small-town, community media outlets, providing insight into best practices for local news production that can engage audiences and counter the spread of misinformation in a small town. Building upon previous scholarship in this area (e.g., Karlis, Mitchell, & Collins, 2012; Metzler, 2021; Thompson, 2021; Wenzel, 2019), the overarching question guiding this study is as follows: In an Internet-connected world, how do local media outlets with varying levels of access to and uses of digital tools remain relevant to their communities and audiences while providing reliable pathways to factual and accurate news that combats misinformation?
To answer this, a collective case study using a purposive sample will be conducted. It will focus on weekly newspapers in Kansas with small staffs and circulations under 10,000 readers. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews will be conducted with 15-20 Kansas editors and reporters. Potential participants will be selected from the Kansas Press Association (KPA) membership list.
Kansas presents a viable location for this research due to its largely rural and small-town composition. Also, according to Abernathy (2023), in 2019 the state had 146 weekly newspapers with only one county lacking a dedicated newspaper. Furthermore, Kansas recently received $451 million to expand broadband connections throughout the state (Carpenter, 2023) as part of a $42.45 billion federal grant program aimed at high-speed internet access (Internet for All, 2023).
By hearing directly from working journalists and media practitioners, this research will be grounded in real-world experiences. The resultant conclusions and recommendations will be actionable because they will showcase the current practices that are in place and illuminate the gaps that need to be filled. Other journalists can learn from this and immediately begin to adjust their practices to better serve their audiences. Doing so will improve the health of democracy and build stronger communities by bolstering the local news landscape.
References
Abernathy, P. M. (2018). The expanding news desert. The Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. School of Media and Journalism.
Abernathy, P. M. (2023). Kansas. In The Expanding News Desert. Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. https://www.usnewsdeserts.com/states/kansas/
Carpenter, T. (2023, September 4). Kansas embarking on five-year, $451 million project to spread high-speed internet statewide. Kansas Reflector. https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/04/kansas-embarking-on-five-year-451-million-project-to-spread-high-speed-internet-statewide/
Collier, J. R., Dunaway, J., & Stroud, N. J. (2021). Pathways to Deeper News Engagement: Factors Influencing Click Behaviors on News Sites. Journal Of Computer-Mediated Communication, 26(5), 265-283. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmab009
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Internet for All. (2023, June 26). Biden-Harris administration announces state allocations for $42.45 billion high-speed internet grant program as part of Investing in America agenda https://internetforall.gov/news-media/biden-harris-administration-announces-state-allocations-4245-billion-high-speed-internet
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Kim, Y.-C., & Ball-Rokeach, S. J. (2006). Civic Engagement From a Communication Infrastructure Perspective. Communication Theory, 16(2), 173-197. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00267.x
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