Invisible and Vulnerable, yet Resilient: A Portrait of Centenary Regional Press in Portugal

In a context of deep crisis in the media sector and growing news deserts across vast regions of Portugal, this study maps the centenary regional press as a resilient expression of proximity journalism. Using a mixed-methods approach — combining documentary analysis and a quantitative survey — 40 publications over 100 years old and still active nationwide were identified and analysed. The study examines their geographical distribution, periodicity, medium (print and/or digital) and editorial board composition in terms of gender. The results indicate a strong territorial anchoring of these publications and significant regional asymmetries, revealing concerning patterns, such as a fragile digital transition, limited gender diversity in leadership within a framework of vertical segregation, and persistent economic vulnerability. Despite these limitations, these newspapers continue to play a relevant role in preserving collective memory, fostering social cohesion and strengthening local democracy. Moreover, they offer essential insights into practices of resistance and adaptation that challenge the decline of proximity journalism. Finally, the study reflects on the public value of this press and the urgency of policies recognising it as informational heritage and a common good, essential to guaranteeing the right to information in peripheral and under-represented regions.