Who needs local media and what for? The role of local media according to local authorities, journalists and people

Anna Przybylska

Due to the changes in the circumstances and form of local media activity, the question about their role in political discourse, and consequently in democracy, remains relevant. What seems especially interesting, as well as significant, is the way how such activity is defined by leading actors in the sphere of public communication, namely local authorities, journalists and people. According to the results of research conducted by the author, local media constitute a great source of knowledge for local communities, informing them about local events, and support the very creation of local communities. However, the media are ineffective in giving citizens a sense of agency stemming from portrayal of opportunities to influence one's closest surroundings.

KEYWORDS

local media, commercialisation of content, authority-people relationship, public discourse, local democracy