Endangered weeklies : a case study of three Maritime weekly newspapers

Abstract

The role of the community newspaper in rural communities is crucial. It is an important vehicle by which people from various communities and with varied interests communicate with one another. It is the way communities come to know about issues that affect them as citizens. At its best the community newspaper is not only a mirror to reflect the good and bad, but also a catalyst for change. The ideal model is an independent weekly because its owner is connected to and interested in the welfare of the community. As corporate consolidation takes over, this model is changing.

The thesis examines three enterprising weeklies in the Maritimes: the Inverness Oran in NS, the Eastern Graphic in PEI and the Miramichi Leader in NB. It explores their relations with their communities, their roles as advocates of change, and the effects of corporate ownership and how that limits democratic debate.