The Changing Role of the Local News Media in Enabling Citizens to Engage in Local Democracies

Bibliographic Data

ID12908697
AuthorsJulie Firmstone (University of Leeds, corresponding author), Stephen Coleman (0000-0001-6230-8463, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume8
Issue5
Pages596-606
Publication date2014-04-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1751-2786 • E-ISSN: 1751-2794
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17512786.2014.895516
OpenAlexW2017283770
LanguageEN
Citations received30
References cited12

Using Leeds City Council in the United Kingdom as a case study, we analyse comparatively the changing role of local journalism in the public communications and engagement strategies of local government. Drawing on over 20 semi-structured interviews with elected politicians, Council strategists, mainstream journalists, and citizen journalists, the article explores perceptions of the mainstream news media's role versus new modes of communication in engaging and communicating with citizens. We evaluate the Council's perceptions of its online and offline practices of engagement with different publics, and focus in particular on their interactions with journalists, the news media, and citizen journalists. The article considers how moves towards digital modes of engagement are changing perceptions of the professional role orientations of journalists in mediating between the Council and the general public

Citizen media · Digital media · Journalism · Mainstream · Media relations · Media studies · News media · Perception · Political science · Politics · Public engagement · Public relations · Publics · Sociology · Law · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Public Relations and Crisis Communication · Social Media and Politics

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