Reaching all audiences: When journalism faces news desertification

Journalism needs to continue reconnecting with its audience in a context of technological transformations, the search for sustainable models and threats to its legitimacy as a mediating actor in democratic societies. Reaching all audiences is a challenge also in the geographical and social sphere of proximity. The phenomenon of news deserts, studied internationally, has raised concerns about communities without local media or access to regular local news coverage, which can damage social cohesion and citizen’s public participation. Spain has also addressed the problem, identifying more than 75% of its municipalities in a situation of news desert, with depopulation being one of the main risk factors. This article addresses the challenges and working lines to continue the research on news desertification, with the aim that its results can be transferred into action plans by political and social actors.