#newspaper decline

[clevelandstate]

Connecting the Decline in Local Newspapers to Political Engagement

“I’ve never had so much attention for any of my research,” Cleveland State University’s Dr. Meghan Rubado says. “It’s been really fun and sort of surprising.”

The research Rubado is referring to has made headlines in NeimanLab.org, CityLab, and even NPR and the BBC. Not only has it been picked up by these media outlets, Rubado’s research subject is the media itself.

Rubado and her co-author, Dr. Jay Jennings of the University of Texas, studied the relationship between newspaper decline, political competition and engagement in city elections. The team analyzed a dataset that included 11 newspapers, 46 cities and 246 elections over a 20-year period. They concluded that, when a newsroom staff shrinks, mayoral races see fewer candidates, larger victory margins for winners, and more uncontested incumbents.

The research also procured suggestive evidence that voter turnout in races declines under decreasing newspaper staff conditions.

“I think the topic of local media decline and the decline of local coverage over time is resonating with people,” Rubado says. “I think it’s a topic that people can identify with and that is relevant.”

While Rubado has a Ph.D. in political science and now teaches in CSU’s Urban Studies Department, her undergraduate degree is in magazine journalism. She spent several years working as a newspaper reporter for The Syracuse Post-Standard, which served as part of the inspiration behind her research.

Jennings and Rubado hatched the idea of studying the connection between newspaper staffing and local politics in spring 2016 at a happy hour in Philadelphia, where they worked together at Temple University. They began collecting data later that fall.

“It’s a story echoed everywhere,” Rubado says regarding the decline of newspapers. “People want quality coverage, they want to know what’s going on, but they don’t have time to go do these things themselves—that’s why there are local journalism jobs.”

Rubado stresses that she doesn’t want her research to appear as if it is blaming journalists for low-quality reporting.

“There are lots of high-quality journalists doing really great reporting in Cleveland and most U.S. cities, but when there are fewer of them, you can’t possibly be getting as much as you were getting before,” Rubado explains.

“I don’t feel like it’s some call for newspapers to do better,” she continues. “I don’t think they’re neglecting coverage of local policy and politics. I think they’re just experiencing revenue shortfall and are trying to keep things afloat in a rapidly changing and technologically changing environment.”

Rubado and Jennings’ study was published early April in Urban Affairs Review. According to Rubado, this is an ongoing stream of research that she and Jennings ultimately hope to turn into a book.

Funded by a Knight Foundation grant, this summer, they are going to be interviewing reporters to see if their personal stories match the findings from the published study.

The team hopes to perform content analysis of news articles over time in order to assess how exactly political reporting has changed with the decline of reporters. They also want to begin examining specific smaller-scale elections, such as school board, city council or municipal court elections.

“We are expecting to see an even more dramatic relationship between this [newspaper staff] decline and people’s engagement with these elections,” Rubado says regarding researching various small-scale elections.  

Rubado is also continuously working on her other research that studies how and why local governments work together, and the conditions under which local governments in “shrinking regions” like the Cleveland area are most likely to contribute toward regional goals.

With all of the media attention Rubado and Jennings’s research has been receiving, Rubado hopes that her findings will help spread awareness of the issue to the general public.

“I think what’s lacking is an understanding of what we’re losing when we don’t have quality local journalism,” Rubado says. “The more people know about that, the more it will push towards a market demand for more [quality local reporting]. If people realize what they’re losing by not having it, I think they’re willing to pay in some way to get it back.”

[bethestaryouareradio]

Holiday Tipping, Sleep, Retirement, Newspaper Decline:

What is a customary holiday tip for service? Are you getting enough sleep? When is it time to retire? Why are newspapers disappearing? https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/147841/holiday-tipping-sleep-retirementnewspaper-decline

Tune in LIVE weekly to the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs!

It’s the holidays and time to show your gratitude to people who have worked for you or served you throughout the year. What is a customary tip for various services?

Do you have trouble sleeping? IF you are feeling groggy in the morning, you may not be getting enough REM. Without a good night’s sleep, your brain doesn’t function properly.

When is time to retire? Some people dream of retiring at 40, 50, 60 or never. Whatever your goal, you need to prepare emotionally, financially, and physically.

Local newspapers are disappearing. This accelerating trend will result in more “news deserts,” a phenomenon that occurs when a community lacks a credible source for local news.  Analysts now predicting the loss of one-third of newspapers by the end of next year.

Follow StarStyle®:

Listen at the Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/147841/holiday-tipping-sleep-retirementnewspaper-decline

, https://www.StarStyleRadio.com

Listen at the Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/147567/nature-thanks-online-misinformation-the-gift-of-gratitude

 Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/147301/wisdom-study-breast-cancer-parent-anxiety-nurturing-friends

RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK: Family Forever: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/family-forever Available at www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store or  www.StarStyleStore.net

LIVE SHOW 4-5pm PT: https://bit.ly/3cDti0Z

Places to Listen to StarStyle Radio:

Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/id669630180?mt=2

Tunein: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Motivational/StarStyle---Be-the-Star-You-Are-p46014/

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/voice-america/be-the-star-you-are

IHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-starstyle-be-the-star-you-31083110/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zDdwzlsHH44caWiMQdD25

SubStack: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/228120.rss

Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/mjw2ng5n

Be the Star You Are! 501 c3 charity offers help, hope, and healing for women, families and youth in need.

BTSYA Operation Disaster Relief. Please donate. http://ow.ly/ks8A30lekGe

Read how BTSYA is Making a Difference: https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/460747/IBPA-Member-Spotlight-Cynthia-Brian.htm 

Read our Newsletter:Smile with Kindness: 

Read Cynthia’s Voice America Blog Press Pass: https://blog.voiceamerica.com/author/cynthia-brian/

Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Or you can choose to make the donation using many different payment methods which may have fees via by Givebutter at https://givebutter.com/be-the-star-you-are-charity.

Small DONATIONS Make a Big Difference to Others: Decrease Violence. Increase Literacy. 

$25 provides 5 new books.

$50 provides 12 new books.

$100 provides 28 new books.

Donate via Paypal Giving Fund

or Visit www.BTSYA.org

Discount Software, Digital content. Ebooks, Games: http://www.humblebundle.com/store?partner=1504&charity=1504

Shop at over 2000 stores and save BIG: https://www.iGive.com/BTYSA

When you are looking for upbeat, life-changing, and mind-stretching information, you have come to the right place. Host Cynthia Brian takes you on a journey of exploration that will encourage, inspire, and motivate you to make positive changes that offer life-enhancing results. It's party time on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. And YOU are invited! Join us LIVE 4-5pm Pt on Wednesdays or tune in to the archives at your leisure. Come play in StarStyle Country. Catch up with all broadcasts on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are!/id669630180?mt=2

Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Buy books by Cynthia Brian at http://www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store

For photos, descriptions, links, archives, and more, visit http://www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Get inspired, motivated, and informed with StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®

Lend us Your Ears!!!

Embed StarStyle® Be the Star You Are!® Radio

If you are a fan of the authors, experts, celebrities, and guests that appear regularly on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® radio, you can now be sure to never miss an episode. Embed this code into your WordPress site or any site and you’ll always have Cynthia Brian and all of your favorite pioneers on the planet at your fingertips.  Upbeat, positive, life-changing talk radio broadcasting live each week since 1998. Lend us Your Ears. We are Starstyle®-Be the Star You Are!®

Be the Star You Are!® charity. Every Season is for Giving  http://www.paypal.me/BetheStarYouAre

Links you can use for Be the Star You Are!®

Positive Results: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results

About Us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us

Programs: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs

How to Help: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help

Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1

Events: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/events

Contact us: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/contact

GREAT NON PROFITS REVIEWS: https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc

GUIDESTAR: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3333882

We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Need an injection of positivity, passion, & purpose to boost productivity & joy? Invite Cynthia Brian into your circle of chaos as we grow confidence & energy through simple coaching techniques that tap into your inner star. Accepting clients.   https://www.CynthiaBrian.com

Make your life happen!

Starstyle, Be the Star You Are, and Miracle Moments are registered  trademarks