New local news research website goes live

By Ryerson Staff

Professor April Lindgren, who heads up the Ryerson Journalism Research Centre,  has launched a multimedia website that’s delivering the details on many months of on-going work.

The Local News Research Project, based at the Ryerson University School of Journalism, explores the factors that influence local news reporting, and examines how the content, the geographic patterns of news coverage, and the amount of local news shape what happens in the Greater Toronto Area.

The project’s growing database allows researchers to create maps that illustrate the spatial reach of local reporting by mainstream and ethnic news organizations. The maps, combined with other data, are used to investigate the role and impact of local news.

“What makes the project different is that we look at the geography of news coverage,” says Lindgren. “And what are the consequences of that.”

Data for the Toronto Star, four ethnic newspapers and one online local news site are currently available. For more information, contact April(dot)lindgren(at)ryerson(dot)ca.