Weekly newspapers and other local, small-town media outlets create community cohesion by documenting local history and reporting critical news and information for residents. Through this work, social capital is built.
These connections break down if the information infrastructure fractures, such as when community newspapers close. This results in news deserts.
The reasons behind such closures vary, but news industry economics might be part of the problem. Reported declines in printed local newspaper circulation and readership compound the issue.
In fact, according to research I’ve conducted previously, the availability of printing presses may be shrinking for weekly newspapers.
Add concerns about burnout and difficulties in finding new proprietors when current owners seek retirement, community news outlets face a potentially dire situation that jeopardizes small-town media outlets and endangers local news ecosystems and democratic society.
As such, I am investigating how small-town, rural media outlets can continue to be crucial components of their local communities’ news and information infrastructures as technology and journalistic practices evolve. This is part of the 2025 International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE)/Huck Boyd Center research paper competition.
Along the way, I will be looking for suggestions and best practices for news reporting and dissemination in a community media setting. Specifically, I am looking for small-town journalists to interview.
These interviews could take place over the phone, in person, or via video conferencing services (such as Zoom), and we would agree on a time that works best based on each of our schedules. Each interview shouldn’t take too long. I am estimating anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes.
If you would like more information, are interested in participating, or know someone who would be a good fit, please visit https://ruralmediaresearch.org/projects/iswne-2025/.
There you can review project information and click on a button to take you to a Google Form I created that will allow you to sign up to participate.
If you are willing to participate, the form will allow you to “sign” that you are agreeing to the study (by marking “Agree” on the first section) and indicate, in general terms, when would work best for you to be interviewed. Then I will follow up with another email to schedule a specific time and day.
One more time, here is that link: https://ruralmediaresearch.org/projects/iswne-2025/
I hope to speak with you soon!