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Internet Studies School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry Assignment 1 Essay Plan Regional Newspapers, Community Identity and Social Capital in a Digital World Student Name: Caroline Hammat Student Number: Unit Name: NET102 Digital Culture and Everyday Life Email Address : [email protected] Date Submitted: 31/3/2019 Word Count: 917 Public link or URL (if applicable): 31/3/2019 Caroline Hammat (Date/Signature) (Typing your name in the space provided is sufficient when submitting online via FLECS-Blackboard.) NET102 Digital Culture and Everyday Life Assignment 1: Essay Plan Thesis statement Digital culture has rapidly changed how we consume entertainment and popular culture with regional communities at risk of losing access to stories and information relevant to them, traditionally served by their local newspaper.
Draft introduction Improvements to the reliability of internet access across regional and rural communities have seen rapid changes in the media landscape across Australia (Warren, as cited in Freeman & Park, 2015, p. 466). The portability and availability of internet enabled devices is changing how these communities consume their local news (Couldry, 2012, p. 16). The newspaper at a local level has historically played an integral role in connecting communities by telling their stories and providing a platform for issues (Hess, 2015, p.490).
Their perceived or actual closeness to the community helps in forming and presenting the communities identity through the social capital they generate. Traditional advertising revenue streams are being monopolised by large digital platforms and this contributes to the downgrading of resources available to regional newspapers (Carson, 2015, p. 1027). The impact of declining advertising revenue and the public’s reluctance to pay to view stories hosted online (Hess & Bowd, 2015, p. 23) could lead to communities unable to reliably access stories researched and written for and about regional communities.
The decline in advertising and circulation revenue potentially affects the accuracy, reliability and availability of local news important to regional communities. Digital culture has rapidly changed how we consume entertainment and popular culture with regional communities at risk of losing access to stories and information relevant to them, traditionally served by their local newspaper. Essay outline Changes to our entertainment and popular culture platforms and how we consume media. • Internet enabled phones and more reliable internet access to regional communities • Streaming services, self-creation of media, citizen journalism. • Social media and news consumption • Paywalls and online eEditions History of regional newspapers and their contribution in reflecting and recording a community’s identity • Traditionally powerful role in the community (pros and cons) • Reporting on local issues and telling the community’s stories • Campaign for regional issues and creating noise that can be picked up by larger media organisations.
Connecting individuals with policy and decision makers • Social capital • Reflecting and creating identity • Archiving Loss of revenue and circulation • Digital platforms and the monopoly on advertising revenue • Digital platforms lifting news items from other sources • Centralisation, amalgamation and closing of regional newspaper offices • Competition from social media platforms and impact of citizen journalism • Paywalls and digital subscriptions Impact of losing or having under-resourced regional newspapers • Loss of access to local issues and stories not covered by state or national media • Information supplied by non-genuine news sources is inaccurate and taken out of context, loss of journalistic integrity and no accountability • reliability of digital archiving Draft paragraph Regional and rural communities have historically had a strong and long running connection with their local newspapers.
This connection can largely be attributed to their perceived closeness to the community. The divide that exists for metropolitan based journalists private and public life is not possible for those who work for any length of time in regional press. The lines become blurred and it is likely regional journalists will often know those who they write about or meet them outside their work environment (Pretty; Bowd; Alysen et al, as cited in Hess & Bowd, 2015, p. 22). It has been the place of newspapers to inform the wider community of births, deaths and marriages, and celebrate the sporting prowess and academic achievements of residents.
Journalists and editors have played a role through this platform in connecting people with those in powerful positions and giving the community a voice in government policy and civic matters (McManamey; Richards; Putnam, Leonardi, & Nanetti; Bowd, as cited in Hess, 2015, p. 484). Newspapers have traditionally remained close to the community and championed for outcomes that are deemed in the community’s best interest yet this closeness can also impact the newspapers objectivity (Maslog, as cited in Hess, 2015, p. 490). This community connection places the local newspaper as an important source of social capital for regional communities.
Through the actions of bonding people with their locale, connecting them to each other and providing access to those in powerful positions who are sometimes difficult to reach it has traditionally helped to form and strengthen the community’s identity (Fenton et al., as cited in Hess, 2015, p.483). Even as local newspapers centralise production or ownership changes from local interests there still retains a sense of identity and community (Hess, 2015, p. 486) although this needs a concerted effort to retain that focus. Importantly the local newspaper provides an uninterrupted historical record of the region’s news and events. Records can be accessed through libraries on microfilm and archived hard copies although these may not always easily accessible.
Although these older forms of archiving are fast being replaced by the National Library of Australia’s online digital database, Trove (Cathro, 2009). Scholarly sources Carson, A. (2015). Behind the newspaper paywall – lessons in charging for online content: a comparative analysis of why Australian newspapers are stuck in the purgatorial space between digital and print. Media, Culture & Society , 37 (7), 1022–1041. 10.1177/ Couldry, N. (2012) Media, Society, World.
Polity: Cambridge. Hess, Kristy. (2015). Making Connections. Journalism Studies, (16:4), . DOI: 10.1080/X.2014.922293 Hess, Kristy and Bowd, Kathryn. (2015).
Friend or foe?: Regional newspapers and the power of Facebook. Media International Australia, Incorporating Culture & Policy, (156), 19-28. Retrieved from au.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=;res=IELLCC Turner, G. (2015). Re-Inventing the media. London: Routledge.
References Carson, A. (2015). Behind the newspaper paywall – lessons in charging for online content: a comparative analysis of why Australian newspapers are stuck in the purgatorial space between digital and print. Media, Culture & Society , 37 (7), 1022–1041. 10.1177/ Cathro, W. (2009). Trove: The library’s new discovery service.
Retrieved from Couldry, N. (2012) Media, Society, World. Polity: Cambridge. Hess, Kristy. (2015). Making Connections. Journalism Studies, (16:4), .
DOI: 10.1080/X.2014.922293 Hess, Kristy and Bowd, Kathryn. (2015). Friend or foe?: Regional newspapers and the power of Facebook. Media International Australia, Incorporating Culture & Policy, (156), 19-28. Retrieved from au.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=;res=IELLCC Bibliography Bowd, Kathryn. (2015). Who’s in the news?: Sourcing priorities in regional newspapers.
Australian Journalism review, 37 (2), . Retrieved from au.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=;res=IELAPA Ewart, J., & Massey, B. L. (2005). Local (people) mean the world to US’: Australia’s regional newspapers and the ‘Closer to readers’ assumption. Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy , 115 (1), 94–108.
10.1177/X Freeman, Julie and Park, Sora. (2015). Rural realities. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 9(4), . DOI:10.1108/TG- Hess, Kristy; Waller, Lisa and Ricketson, Matthew. (2014). Are there news gaps in rural/regional Australia?: Researching media plurality beyond Finkelstein.
Australian Journalism Review, . Retrieved from au.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=;res=IELLCC> ISS N: Leary, P. (2015). Response: Search and serendipity. Victorian Periodicals Review, 48 (2), ,295. Retrieved from com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/docview/?accountid=10382 Lecheler, S., & Kruikemeier, S. (2016).
Re-evaluating journalistic routines in a digital age: A review of research on the use of online sources. New Media & Society, 18 (1), 156–171. Oh, H., Animesh, A., & Pinsonneault, A. (2016). Free versus for-a-fee: The impact of a paywall on the pattern and effectiveness of word-of-mouth via social media. MIS Quarterly, 40 (1), 31-A5.
Retrieved from Park, S. (2017). Digital inequalities in rural Australia: A double jeopardy of remoteness and social exclusion. Journal of Rural Studies, 54 (August), . Turner, G. (2015). Re-Inventing the media.
London: Routledge. Vonbun-Feldbauer, R., & Dogruel, L. (2018). Regional newspapers’ sourcing strategies: Changes in media-citation and self-citation from a longitudinal perspective. Journalism. Name [Student No. ] Assignment 1: Essay Plan
Paper for above instructions
Title: The Role of Regional Newspapers in Community Identity and Social Capital in the Digital EraThesis Statement
Digital culture has profoundly altered how we consume media, leading to potential threats for regional communities that risk losing access to stories and information of local relevance—historically provided by their local newspapers.
Introduction
Improvements in internet availability in rural and regional Australia have significantly shifted the media landscape (Warren, 2015). The proliferation of internet-enabled devices is redefining how individuals in these areas access their news (Couldry, 2012). Traditionally, local newspapers have played a pivotal role in fostering community identity by providing a platform for storytelling and addressing local issues (Hess, 2015). However, a shift in advertising revenue to larger digital platforms poses threats to the viability of regional newspapers, jeopardizing the very fabric of community engagement (Carson, 2015). Ultimately, the decline in both circulation and advertising revenue may lead to a scenario where regional communities find themselves deprived of reliable access to news pertinent to their lives (Hess & Bowd, 2015).
Changes in Media Consumption
The shift to digital culture brings both opportunities and challenges for regional communities. On one hand, reliable internet access has enabled them to consume media more broadly—an evolution that changes how entertainment and popular culture are accessed (Turner, 2015). Citizens are increasingly turning to streaming services, self-created media, and citizen journalism as alternatives to traditional news outlets (Bowd, 2015). On the other hand, social media platforms have facilitated news consumption patterns that may not fully capture local issues, leading to the dilution of regional stories.
The introduction of paywalls and online editions means that previous free access to local stories has been replaced with subscription models that many in rural areas may find difficult to support (Oh, Animesh, & Pinsonneault, 2016). The competitive landscape has evolved, and regional newspapers now face challenges from both global entities and local social media platforms that can source news from multiple channels without bearing the full costs of original reporting.
Historical Role of Regional Newspapers
Regional newspapers have historically been a lifeblood for their communities, reinforcing local identity and archiving essential information (McManamey et al., as cited in Hess, 2015). Their close ties to audiences foster a sense of trust and understanding that larger media outlets often struggle to replicate (Lecheler & Kruikemeier, 2016). Local journalists may regularly interact with subjects of news stories and thus play a crucial role in capturing the community's essence through reporting on births, deaths, marriages, and local events.
Furthermore, regional newspapers often campaign for local issues and amplify voices that are crucial to community members. This involves connecting citizens to policy-makers and serving as vehicles for civic engagement (Richards et al., 2015). Through their narratives, these newspapers not only reflect community identity but also contribute to its creation—building social capital that connects individuals and groups (Fenton et al., as cited in Hess, 2015).
Declining Revenue and Circulation
The advent of the digital economy has created a monopolistic environment where advertising revenue has largely been diverted to larger platforms like Google and Facebook (Carson, 2015). Regional newspapers, often less equipped to transition fully online, find themselves facing existential threats due to dwindling revenue streams. The rise of digital platforms has resulted in centralized production and, in many cases, the closure of physical newspaper offices (Park, 2017). Increased competition from social media platforms and citizen journalism further complicate the financial viability of local newspapers, as they often lack the financial resources to compete against powerful online aggregators.
Consequently, regional newspapers face the difficult choice of imposing paywalls or providing free content, both of which can further alienate potential audience members who may already find local news subscriptions financially burdensome (Ewart & Massey, 2005). Those who rely on local newspapers may soon discover gaps in the range of coverage available to them, leading to a scenario where local stories become overshadowed by state or national media narratives.
Consequences of Under-Resourced Regional Newspapers
The ramifications of losing or underfunding regional newspapers are profound—communities may suffer from a lack of access to vital information about local issues and events (Hess & Bowd, 2015). Under-resourced newspapers are less likely to cover stories that require investigative journalism, which elevates the risk of spreading misinformation through unofficial channels (Cathro, 2009). This decline in journalistic integrity can wear down the trust that communities have in news outlets, leading to a further disconnect from civic affairs and decision-making processes.
Additionally, under-resourced outlets may struggle to maintain a historical record of events, which limits future generations' access to local narratives. Digital archiving efforts, though vital, cannot completely fill the gaps left by the loss of local publications (Hess, 2015). Access to comprehensive and accurate records of community history becomes a challenge, leaving local history fragmented and harder to reconstruct.
Conclusion
The transition to a digitized media landscape presents both an opportunity and a challenge for regional newspapers. While connectivity and diversity in media consumption have expanded, they have simultaneously diluted local storytelling and threatened the financial viability of regional outlets. As these newspapers continue to navigate this new terrain, the role they play in nurturing community identity and social capital cannot be understated. Without a concerted effort to preserve these essential news sources, regional communities may find themselves increasingly isolated, lacking access to relevant narratives that have been the hallmark of local journalism for generations.
References
1. Bowd, K. (2015). Who’s in the news?: Sourcing priorities in regional newspapers. Australian Journalism Review, 37(2).
2. Carson, A. (2015). Behind the newspaper paywall – lessons in charging for online content: a comparative analysis of why Australian newspapers are stuck in the purgatorial space between digital and print. Media, Culture & Society, 37(7), 1022–1041.
3. Cathro, W. (2009). Trove: The library’s new discovery service.
4. Couldry, N. (2012). Media, Society, World. Polity.
5. Ewart, J., & Massey, B. L. (2005). Local (people) mean the world to US’: Australia’s regional newspapers and the ‘Closer to readers’ assumption. Media International Australia, 115(1), 94–108.
6. Fenton, N., et al. (2015). What is social capital and why does it matter? Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology.
7. Hess, K. (2015). Making connections. Journalism Studies, 16(4).
8. Hess, K., & Bowd, K. (2015). Friend or foe?: Regional newspapers and the power of Facebook. Media International Australia, 156, 19-28.
9. Lecheler, S., & Kruikemeier, S. (2016). Re-evaluating journalistic routines in a digital age: A review of research on the use of online sources. New Media & Society, 18(1), 156–171.
10. Turner, G. (2015). Re-Inventing the media. London: Routledge.