Independent journalism in the contemporary landscape

literature review on practices, challenges, and platformization

Abstract

This article addresses independent and regional journalism in the contemporary context. The methodology adopted is based on a literature review encompassing both recent and classical studies in the field. The findings indicate that independent and regional journalism have been strengthened by the advent of digital media, mainly due to the low cost of distribution, the proximity to specific communities, and the intensive use of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Furthermore, the duality of the digital environment stands out, as it enables greater democratization of access to information while also facing challenges such as the spread of disinformation and the influence of algorithms that shape news consumption. It is concluded that independent and regional journalism play a fundamental role in informational plurality and in promoting citizenship, requiring, however, continuous attention to ethics, rigorous fact-checking, and sustainability in the face of technological and market transformations.