Mid Sweden University

The question of the role of hyperlocal media is of great relevance in today’s hybrid media landscape, where traditional local media no longer is the obvious entrance to local information for all citizens. 

Mathisen and Morlandstø (2019) suggest that when blind spots are not covered by local media, they are neither likely brought onto the national mediated agenda, at least not from the periphery, rural or regional point of views. The shifting boundaries of journalism, including the decline and consolidation of local and regional media, is visible in most western countries, leaving gaps in geographic news coverage (Nielsen, 2015; Radcliffe, 2012, 2015). 

Closely linked to the digitalization process, however, there is an increasing occurrence of local independent news sites online (Nygren, Leckner, & Tenor, 2018). In Sweden, they are often situated in large towns, suburbs, and industrial municipalities (Jangdal, 2019; Nygren et al., 2018). 

Research has shown that young people interested in society take part of news media at a much higher level than those who value their public interest as low (Andersson, 2019). Media and journalism are thus vital mediators of local culture and identity in everyday life as well as in framing the past, present, and future of local societies (Lindén, 2017; Skogerbo & Winsvold, 2011).

In today’s digital world it is a challenge for media outlets to encompass both journalism professionalism and offer a sense of identity (Ugolini & Colantoni, 2017). Firmstone (2016) has noted that audiences for local news are larger than ever, but “the challenge of making content about civic issues interesting to them persists” (Firmstone, 2016, p. 936).

Through ecological metaphors such as ecosystems, food chains, diversity, and ecological niches, it is possible to analyze how the media system is changing (Anderson, 2016; Napoli, Stonbely, McCollough, & Renninger, 2017). 

Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative studies in Sweden, this paper makes a theoretical effort to advance our conceptions about hyperlocal media, their presence in the journalistic field and potential societal impact. This is carried out through four different perspectives according to a new ROLE-model taking into consideration (i) Relations, (ii) Orientation, (iii) Locality, and (iv) Ecology.

Early conclusions indicate that hyperlocal media (i) pursue a close and reciprocal relationship with their audiences, (ii) have a clear emphasis on local material but with a diversity of civic roles, (iii) permeate locality both from the perspectives of practitioners and audiences, and (iv) have a definite role in the media ecology providing news from a close range.