Identifying the problems faced by local media businesses and proposing solutions: The case of Artvin province

This research examines the main challenges faced by local media businesses, the significance of these challenges, and the solution strategies proposed to address them. The literature review reveals that local media businesses have been struggling with various problems for years, and these challenges have increasingly intensified over time. However, most of the proposed solution strategies have not fully achieved their intended goals. The research, based on the findings from the literature review, focuses on problems categorized under eight main headings: economic issues, technological and digital infrastructure problems, employment and skilled personnel shortages, structural and institutional problems, legal and administrative barriers, content production and journalism quality, distribution and accessibility issues, media-politics relations and ethical issues. The research follows a two-stage data collection process. In the first stage, the primary issues and proposed solutions identified through expert opinions were analyzed. In the second stage, these issues were ranked in order of importance based on assessments made by experts. The findings of the research focus on local media businesses in Artvin province, highlighting the root causes of the challenges they face and the priority order of these issues. The study aims to provide solution strategies to enhance the sustainability of local media businesses. In conclusion, local media enterprises report facing challenges not only due to limited economic resources but also because of issues such as difficult working hours, insufficient days off, excessive workload, and the desire for skilled personnel to migrate. Proposed solutions to these challenges include legal and regulatory support, focusing on the local community, and increasing accessibility and diversity, which are presented as key strategies to overcome the problems faced by local media enterprises. The research advocates for the development of more comprehensive solution proposals for the sector to enhance the sustainability of local media.