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> Rosa M. McManamey
The
Relationship Between Community Newspapers and Social Capital: the
Power to Empower
Thesis submitted in fulfilment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
University of Tasmania
July 2004
Abstract
Research confirms the positive relationship between commercial newspaper
readership and social capital. However, the relationship between
independent community newspapers and social capital is largely overlooked
in social science research. The purpose of this study is to explore
the relationship between community newspapers and social capital
by analysing the newspaper content, and investigating the timing
of the establishment and production of independent community newspapers
published in Tasmania between 1910 and 2000. Using both qualitative
and quantitative approaches, and a mixed-method case study, the
study explores the number and distribution of community newspapers
in Tasmania, the issues presented, and the relationship between
community newspapers and social capital. Data were gathered through
a content analysis of the community newspapers, as well as semi-structured
interviews with newspaper editors/coordinators. The content analysis
framework incorporates four dimensions of social capital identified
from the literature: elements, networks, knowledge and identity
resources and incorgov. Content of a sample of 16 independent community
newspapers was coded into Excel and was analysed using SPSS; results
are presented as frequencies and cross-tabulations. Findings indicate
that community newspaper numbers in Tasmania between 1970 and 2000
tripled. Community newspaper establishment was closely related to
the periods of highest emigration and economic change throughout
the century. This suggests that community newspapers contribute
to higher community cohesion in ‘difficult times’. The
content analysis identified a changing focus of the papers’
content from human interest and more global information in the earliest
decades, to community and local issues and interests after 1950.
The study supports the literature in finding that trust is a key
factor linked to the establishment and increasing circulations of
new publications. It is also a core element of social capital, functioning
at a number of levels in the process and continuity of community
newspapers. The process supporting the relationship between communities
and their community newspapers is identified in this study for the
first time as cyclical reciprocity. The study provides valuable
insights into community dynamics and patterns of social capital.
This has implications for community development practice and policy.
The study classifies the broad term ‘community newspaper’
into three levels, allowing independent community newspapers ‘of
geographic locale’––established as a result of
community initiative––to be identified as a unit, which
may aid future media research. The study contributes a new perspective
to social capital research by devising a content analysis framework
to explore both the quality and quantity of social capital. Unlike
other social capital research, the framework provides a means of
analysing historical data and profiling social capital by means
other than interview and survey. This has implications for expanding
future social capital research.
Information
on the author
Rosa M. McManamey is Honorary Research Associate at the Department
of Rural Health of the University of Tasmania.
Contact details
Dr Rosa Maria McManamey
Honorary Research Associate
University Department of Rural Health
University of Tasmania
Locked Bag 1357
Launceston 7250
TASMANIA
Ph:03 63244065 MB 0427692929 AH:03 63341403
Email: Rosa.McManamey@utas.edu.au
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Additional information
This thesis is listed also in sections Sociology,
Political Sciences, English
and in the Chronological
archive.
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