An alternative form of local journalism in Turkey: Hyperlocal journalism

Communication technologies are inherently in a constant state of transformation. In particular, the global increase in internet usage and the greater flexibility and lower cost of online journalism models in terms of production and distribution have reduced barriers to local journalism initiatives. These developments have paved the way for the emergence of numerous local media initiatives, both professional and amateur, through various online platforms and social media networks. One such initiative is hyperlocal media. Hyperlocal media, through websites, blogs, and social media platforms, facilitates access to local news for both residents and local administrations within a specific geographic area. At the same time, it presents an alternative structure to traditional local media. This type of media, which focuses on small and geographically defined areas, generally fills news gaps that are overlooked by mainstream media. The focus of this study is to examine the roles undertaken by hyperlocal media organizations in ultra-local areas, their news production processes, the economic models they adopt, and the relationships they establish with local communities. For this purpose, in-depth interviews with open-ended, semi-structured questions were conducted as part of a qualitative research methodology. The study employed criterion sampling, one of the purposeful sampling methods frequently used in qualitative research. Criterion sampling involves selecting participants who possess specific characteristics directly related to the identified research problem. In this context, interviews were conducted with five hyperlocal media organizations operating in districts of Antalya province with populations under 150,000. The findings indicate that hyperlocal media organizations make local issues more visible and contribute to prompting local administrations to take action on these problems. In this regard, hyperlocal media significantly contributes to participatory democracy. However, the fact that these organizations are independent of each other and have varying structures and motivations poses a barrier to the professionalization of the field.