What Comes after News Deserts?: Identifying the Markers of the Potential ‘News Oasis

What Comes after News Deserts?: Identifying the Markers of the Potential ‘News Oasis

Roberta Fiorito (Ph.D. student), “What Comes after News Deserts?: Identifying the Markers of the Potential ‘News Oasis’,” research-in-program submission accepted for presentation in the Community Journalism division of the 2025 AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Chapel Hill, March.

Abstract: Although “news desert” has become a familiar term and popular research topic for mass communication scholars, there is little focus on communities that are ripe for new, potentially nontraditional forms of local news media. Our research builds on existing news desert research to define a “news oasis” as a community where new forms of local news media would flourish. Using a case study method of research, survey results will help identify which news desert communities in the U.S. would most likely be able to sustain a new local news source. We believe this research could have a potential impact on communities across the U.S., the journalism industry, media investment and young people interested in the journalism field.

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