19 pages., Online via UI e-subscription., Authors examined impacts of efforts by Report for America (RFA) to strengthen the capacity of local news and increase trust from the perspective of two communities: a neighborhood on Chicago's West Side and a rural county in eastern Kentucky. Findings illustrated "the influence of place and power dynamics on how residents navigate trustworthiness factors." They also revealed lack of feedback loops to provide coverage for communities.
16 pages., via online journal., Case study examined the efforts of a rural hyperlocal outlet to adapt community traditions as engagement interventions by reimagining "society columns" as community contributors -- and using "liars tables" as listening circles. Findings show promising signs by making the processes of journalism more participatory, allowing residents to represent and share their own stories and cover a wider range of stories that are not exclusively negative. The "liars table" concept "has a steeper road ahead."
8 pages., Online via Ryerson Review of Journalism website. Published on February 19, 2020., Tara de Ryk, owner and publisher of a rural Saskatchewan weekly newspaper, decided after 21 years to retire from the newspaper business. This article describes how community interest in local news and an adventuresome spirit prompted her to conduct a give-away contest in late 2019. Interested persons were invited to write an essay (500 words maximum) about how they would be ideal owner and publisher of the Davidson Leader. The article describes the contest and winning entry, which led to change in ownership.
Cross, Al (author / Director, Institute of Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky )
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
2018-03
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 8 Document Number: D10311
Notes:
2 pages., Online from the Institute of Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky. Published earlier in the Publishers' Auxiliary, newspaper of the National Newspaper Association., "We need more letters from the editor, not just statements of general principle, but explanations of how and why we do certain tings. If we demand transparency from officials and institutions, we must practice it ourselves."
5 pages., Via online UI subscription., Report of sessions at a conference about the need and role of community newspapers in sustaining and revitalizing U.S. rural life. Conference organized by the Keene (New Hampshire) Sentinel newspaper and Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 143 Document Number: D11535
Notes:
4 pages., Online via Poynter Institute website., Featured a two-way educational program involving professional journalists at local rural newspapers and undergraduate students in the School of Journalism, University of Missouri. This article in the series involved a student working for one week with the editorial staff of the Bowling Green Times newspaper. Student learned about community journalism and shared information about use of social media platforms.
Garfrerick, Beth H. (author / University of North Alabama)
Format:
Monograph
Publication Date:
2018
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 199 Document Number: D10069
Notes:
112 pages., Manuscript from author involving dissertation research., This monograph addresses the history of the community weekly newspaper in the United States throughout the twentieth century.
Online U.S. edition of the Guardian newspaper. 4 pages., "Local journalism is doing great work across the country while fighting cutbacks and tight budgets. But we need people to stop expecting news to be free.
Case report of a deceased rural community newspaper in Australia which was revived, using simple digital publishing systems with reporting (college students working under instruction from the community) and production staff based 735 kilometers away. Findings illustrated the importance of local editorial control.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D06838
Notes:
246 pages., Concise how-to book that offers advice about how to cover various aspects of community life and activity at the local level. Some sections involve coverage of environment, natural resources and land records.
