Local journalism is often dismissed as too small in scale, too limited in scope, and too slow in pace. Yet it remains indispensable. In South Tyrol, a region where German, Italian, and Ladin speakers live alongside one another, local journalism carries an unusually heavy responsibility. It does not only inform but also mediates. It helps create a shared space for public discussion in a society structured by linguistic and cultural diversity, gives linguistic minorities (https://hcnm.osce.org/sites/default/files/f/documents/0/9/96883.pdf) visibility, and sustains their presence in public life. Stories of regional significance rarely feature in Italian or Austrian national media. For many communities, local journalism is not a supplement to broader coverage. It is the only coverage there is.
Beate Aufderklamm (Tue,) studied this question.