The effect of the decline of local newspapers on socially deprived geographical communities, questioning the role played by hyper-local online journalism in those communities

Toomer, D (2025) The effect of the decline of local newspapers on socially deprived geographical communities, questioning the role played by hyper-local online journalism in those communities. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

Preview

Text 2024toomerphd.pdf.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (7MB) | Preview

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between local media and community life, seeking to establish whether social and economic deprivation makes a difference in how news is delivered as print “Big Media” declines, and questions whether online news delivery is meeting the critical information needs of those communities. The study also explores how publications referred to as independent community hyperlocal news providers have contributed to the delivery of news and information and whether social deprivation makes a difference to the success of meeting those needs, investigating the disputed claims that some communities have been left without news coverage – a concept commonly referred to as “news deserts”.
Using a mixed method research approach – combining a comprehensive mapping of news providers, content analyses of media coverage of communities and the coverage of four UK general elections together with qualitative interviews with both news consumers and hyperlocal providers – the study finds that although most areas of England are at least nominally covered by a “Big Media” news provider, there are distinct differences in the extent to which critical information needs are delivered. As “Big Media” has withdrawn from communities irrespective of their socio-economic status, the news gap has been filled to some extent by the emergence of new independent publications. However, there is clear evidence of inequality in terms of the extent to which these publications are emerging in areas of social deprivation. As has been observed in previous studies, sustainability and precarity is a significant issue for independent news providers across all communities, but it can be concluded that this is particularly acute in areas of socio-economic deprivation and has not significantly improved over time. Independent community publications are therefore not coming to the rescue of deprived communities for a variety of reasons.
A phenomenon which could be summarised as news deprivation or in some cases news poverty can be identified and this thesis argues for public policy intervention to develop a measure of news deprivation alongside other indicators of social deprivation with a view to directing resources accordingly to support communities most in need of support for local media.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Local news; communities; social deprivation; news deserts
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Divisions:	Screen School
Date of acceptance:	22 May 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	10 July 2025
Date Deposited:	10 Jul 2025 16:09
Last Modified:	10 Jul 2025 16:09
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00026592
Supervisors:	Li, R and McLean, R
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26592

View Item