The Neighborhood Hyperlocal: New Kid on the Block or a Chip Off the Old One?

• In Event: Local and Regional Journalism

Abstract

With local news coverage affected across the United States following the closure of local newspapers and other community weeklies, concerned citizens and journalists have started hyperlocal news sites. Similar to community weeklies, these sites focus on a small, geographically defined community and are usually created to fill a certain gap in news coverage. Few studies, however, reveal much about these sites, those who work for them and whether they are a harbinger of new forms journalism or simply reflections of traditional media. Within the theoretical framework of hierarchy of influences and gatekeeping, this study examined the social characteristics of those who work in these sites, the media routines they follow and their interaction with, and perception of, user generated content. Findings reveal that journalistic routines and behaviors of the respondents working in hyperlocal media are similar to those practiced by journalists in mainstream media. Implications and future studies are addressed.

Author

• Monica Chadha, Arizona State University