Reģionālie mediji Latvijā: Covid-19 izraisītās krīzes izaicinājumi

Abstract

A multi-stage study was conducted to find out what is the role of regional media in the crisis caused by the coronavirus Covid-19, what problems do the media face, what is the opinion of consumers about the work of regional media: 1) audience surveys (1428 respondents); 2) survey of national and regional media (26 respondents); 3) analysis of the content of the regional newspaper Alūksnes un Malienas Ziņas (during the state emergency, March 12, 2020 –June 10, 2020); 4) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with regional media consumers (audience); 5) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with regional media editors. The Covid-19 crisis changed the work of regional media. The ways of obtaining media information diversified, mutual communication and the created content changed, and interaction with the audience increased. The number of subscribers and advertisers decreased significantly (up to 50 %), and therefore the total revenue, creating a serious threat to the existence of the media. The financial situation forced several media executives to reorganise the media – to reduce the number of employees and their salaries, decide on reducing the periodicity of newspapers, and raise prices. Several regional media leaders predict that the media will be shut down if the situation does not improve. The public appreciates and trusts the work of the regional media, they are happy to consume them as well, but more and more often, they cannot afford to pay for them. The results of the survey confirm that with each decade of life achieved, people’s interest in local events (news in the municipality and region, culture and sports) and, consequently, the intensity of regional media consumption increase. Local proximity increases mutual trust between regional media workers (their content) and local community residents (audience). Interactions (seeking advice and assistance, participating in content creation, recording violations of restrictions) were particularly active during the Covid-19 crisis when the doors of state and local authorities were closed (the work took place from home) throughout the emergency. The rapid spread of Covid-19 changed the traditional agenda of regional media – methods of information gathering and mutual communication (remote interviews, video conferences, and meetings, virtual meetings on electronic communication platforms), as well as the content created. The results of the content analysis confirm the priority status of the Covid-19 topic (multiplicity, intensity, location) in the content of the regional newspaper Alūksnes un Malienas Ziņas. With the materials dedicated to Covid-19, journalists informed the audience about the latest events, explained the decisions made by the government, motivated them to act responsibly, appealed to conscience, called for mutual help, condemned, comforted, and also saved. During the emergency, journalists performed not only the functions of an informant but also an educator, psychologist, and social worker (educating, explaining, reassuring, motivating, and helping), while reducing one of their main functions – the watchdog function. The regional press is the only mechanism of balance of power in the regions that exercises power control in local governments, as well as the only ones that regularly record the uniqueness of the local environment, promote the construction of local identity, create a sense of belonging, ensure objective information from reliable sources. Without receiving the necessary support from the state authorities (financial assistance, tax relief, arrangement of legislation), the existence of regional media will be endangered in the coming year, thereby a versatile media environment, diversity of opinions, availability of objective information, as well as preservation of literary Latvian language and culture will also be in danger.