Re-focusing on the local: News start-ups, community engagement and social capital

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 had an immediate and far-reaching impact on newspaper publishing in regional Australia. Scores of publications around the country ceased printing temporarily or permanently, creating ‘news deserts’ in some towns and regions, and significantly reducing access to local news in others. In response to this, local news start-ups began emerging in towns and regions across the country. Business models, publication frequency and other characteristics vary widely, but one characteristic that is widely shared is an emphasis on community engagement and local interests. This extends beyond the provision of local news to narratives highlighting multi-layered engagement with and support for communities. By engaging with communities as more than providers of news, these outlets may also be positioning themselves to support local social capital. This article explores key themes and ideas in the community-focused narratives of a purposive sample of start-up local news outlets to consider how their strategies of community connection and interaction may also contribute to social capital.