Local Journalism and Sense of Community in the Deployment of Communication Strategies in Depopulated Areas

Description

PROJECT: ‘Local Journalism and Sense of Community in the Deployment of Communication Strategies in Depopulated Areas’ (SBPLY/23/180225/000066), funded by the Agencia de Investigación e Innovación de Castilla-La Mancha and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – A way of making Europe.

DESCOM is a regional research project that seeks to explore the role of local journalism and media in addressing the challenges of demographic decline and territorial cohesion in Castilla-La Mancha, one of the European regions most affected by rural depopulation. The project aims to understand how communication infrastructures and practices contribute to the sense of community, democratic participation, and the articulation of rural territories.

To this end, DESCOM examines the structure and distribution of local media across depopulated zones, identifying so-called “information deserts” and analysing media representation across the 919 municipalities of the region. It combines quantitative mapping and news geography analysis with collaborative ethnographic work in selected rural areas, where the project delves into local narratives, media uses, and citizens’ expectations of journalism.

The project also carries out a critical review of communication-related public policies in the fight against depopulation, focusing on how local media can participate in mechanisms such as rural proofing and contribute to more inclusive, bottom-up governance models.

DESCOM’s outputs include applied research, academic publications, visual and cartographic tools, and policy recommendations aimed at reinforcing the role of local media as strategic actors in rural development. It also fosters knowledge transfer by engaging with local communities, institutional actors, and media professionals in a participatory and interdisciplinary framework.

Overall, DESCOM aligns with the priorities of the European Union’s Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas and the Rural Pact, by promoting inclusive communication ecosystems that support rural resilience, social cohesion, and democratic vitality.

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