Transformation process to digital journalism in local press: Aegean Region local press instance

With the advent of digital technologies, mass communication tools have undergone a significant transformation. In this changing environment, the media has also experienced a paradigmatic shift, particularly in the realm of news and journalism. This transformation in journalism has introduced new approaches and practices across various areas, including journalistic practices, news production processes, economic expenses, and employment. Within the context of this study, a design was developed to determine how local media positions itself in the process of digitalization. The purpose of this research is to explore how local newspapers approach the digitalization process and to identify their achievements in terms of implementation. For data collection, the semi-structured interview technique, one of the qualitative analysis methods, was employed. The research area was identified as the Western Aegean Region, and considering accessibility, the study focused on newspapers and online news platforms in İzmir, Denizli, and Manisa. These outlets, which operate both digitally and in print, were officially recognized by the Press Advertisement Agency and qualified to publish official advertisements and commercials. In this context, interviews were conducted on a voluntary basis with local newspapers and online news platforms in the three provinces, and the research data were collected. The obtained data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis via the MAXQDA 2024 qualitative data analysis software. The themes of the analysis included "perception of journalism," "news production process," "technological infrastructure," "human resources," and "economic structure." The research findings reveal the multifaceted impacts of digitalization on local newspapers. The results indicate that the level of digitalization varies across provinces; some provinces have faced more limitations in integrating digital platforms into their news production processes. Furthermore, efforts have been made to capitalize on the opportunities provided by digitalization in terms of cost management and economic sustainability. The findings also highlight that while some provinces struggle to access qualified human resources, others experience these challenges to a lesser extent.