Local News and Democracy: Who Holds Power to Account When Reporters Disappear?

What happens to democracy when local journalists disappear? Across the UK and beyond, newsrooms have shrunk, local newspapers have closed, and fewer reporters are attending council meetings, court hearings and community events. But what does this mean for accountability, transparency and public trust?In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the growing crisis in local journalism and asks what happens when there is nobody left to scrutinise those in power. Why does local news matter for democracy? What role do journalists play in holding councils, public bodies and local institutions to account? And what are the consequences when important decisions are made without public scrutiny?Joining Stephen is Dr Tor Clark, journalism scholar at the University of Leicester, who worked as a political journalist from 1988-2014, and whose research examines local news, democratic participation and the changing media landscape. Together, they explore how the decline of local reporting is creating an accountability gap and consider what can be done to strengthen local journalism in the future.This episode explores local journalism, democracy, public accountability, media trust, community reporting, local government and the crucial role of journalism in democratic life.Guest: ⁠Tor ClarkPresenter: ⁠Professor Stephen Coleman⁠Producer: ⁠Carl Hartley⁠We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. And if you like this podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released. The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.