The ‘imagined community’ of readers of hyperlocal news: A case study of Baristanet

Renee Barnes

doi:10.1386/joacm_00020_1

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The ‘imagined community’ of readers of hyperlocal news: A case study of Baristanet

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The ‘imagined community’ of readers of hyperlocal news: A case study of Baristanet

Renee Barnes

Journal of Alternative and Community Media, Vol.1, pp.84-96

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1386/joacm_00020_1

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Abstract

Journalism and Professional Writing

participatory journalism

imagined community

community journalism

hyperlocal

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Hyperlocal media are characterised by their narrow focus on small geographic regions, and citizen or community participation in the news-production process. However, very little work has focused on the dynamics of community development in relation to these websites - including the role of participation. Based on a case study of award-winning New Jersey-based hyperlocal news website Baristanet, this article draws on an online survey of readers about how and why they participate on the website. The analysis finds low levels of active contributions in the form of comments following news stories and evidence of a limited representative community on the website. Specifically, analysis of the survey responses suggests that contested user notions of an 'imagined community' (Anderson, 1991) have significant impacts on participatory behaviour. The article argues that a virtual community, based on an offline geographic region, can face particular barriers when it comes to fostering website participation, which may suggest a reinterpretation of Anderson's imagined community in the age of participatory journalism.

Details

Title: The ‘imagined community’ of readers of hyperlocal news: A case study of Baristanet
Authors: Renee Barnes (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Publication details: Journal of Alternative and Community Media, Vol.1, pp.84-96
Publisher: Griffith University
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.1386/joacm_00020_1
ISSN: 2206-5857
Copyright note: Copyright © 2016 The Authors. All content in the Journal is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License. This means that you may share, copy and redistribute your article as published, without modification, for non-commercial purposes. We request that you link to the Journal as the primary means of sharing your article.
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy; Engage Research Lab
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451056802621
Output Type: Journal article

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