Presentation at the International Conference "Online Journalism & Its Publics", Brussels, 5-6 December 2013. Written with Franck Bousquet and Emmanuel Marty.

1. Online journalism and its publics
International and interdisciplinary conference :
December 4-6, 2013, Brussels
ONLINE LOCAL NEWS AND PURE PLAYERS :
A NEW RELATION TO THE PUBLIC ?
Franck BOUSQUET, Lerass, Université Toulouse 3
Emmanuel MARTY, I3M, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Nikos SMYRNAIOS, Lerass, Université Toulouse 3

2. Theoretical framework
• Internet and territory issues (Demers 2001)
• Local news and local journalists, a particular relation
to the public based on proximity
(Ringoot, Rochard, 2005)
• National pure players: an editorial model based on
sociological closeness (Granjon & Le Foulgoc, 2010)
•  Where do local pure players stand towards those
models in their relation to audiences?

3. Theoretical framework
• Local print press and proximity:
- Territory as a space defined by political and
economical links between individuals (Boure,
Lefebvre, 2000)
- Local journalist as a citizen of his territory (Ringoot,
Rochard, 2005 ; Bousquet, 2014)
- Local news as a mediation between local politicians
and inhabitants
- Local press in monopolistic position

4. Theoretical framework
• Local pure players and the model of closeness
- Marginal actors in online news landscape, niche
market (Estienne, 2007 ; Bruno & Nielsen, 2012)
- Educated and demanding audiences, interested in
politics (Comby et al., 2011)
- Sociologically homogeneous audiences, active in
social networks, similar to digital journalists
- Audiences more likely to engage in debates with
other internet users and with journalists (Aubert, 2009;
Smyrnaios, 2013)

5. Website sample
- Mars Actu (Marseille, South East of France)
Created in 2009, staff of 6,
200000 visitors per month
Focus on local politics, analysis
- Chez Albert (Marseille, South East of France)
Created in 2011, staff of 2,
3000-6000 visitors per month
Slow information and serial news
- Carré d’Info (Toulouse, South West of France)
Created in 2011, staff of 3 + freelance,
Original reporting and under-treated issues
of local media agenda
- Libé Toulouse (Toulouse, South West of France)
Created in 2007, staff of 1 + 2 freelance,
First affiliated to the daily Libération, closed since April 2013

6. Methodology
• Semi-directive interviews with journalists/news
editors of the websites on 3 aspects:
- Participatory processes: comments
management, attention to contributors, use of
social platforms, sollicitations of audiences
- Representation of the audience: social
construction of audience identity, territorial
and geographical factors
- Positioning in local landscape: physical
location, relations to politicians and other
local medias

7. Participatory processes
Mars Actu
Comments
Chez
Albert
(relatively)
less
large and interaction
active
community
Carré d’Info
Libé Toulouse
less
interaction
(relatively)
large and
active
community
Social
platforms
Strong
presence
and trafic
source
Strong
presence
and trafic
source
Strong
presence
and trafic
source
Lower
presence and
trafic source
Sollicitations
of audiences
Through
platforms
and live
blogging
Through
platforms
Through
platforms
Through
platforms

8. Representation of the audience
Mars Actu
Audience Metropolitan
identity
Involved in
politics
Territorial
factors
relevance
Sociological
factors
City center
 strong
Chez Albert
Carré d’Info
Libé Toulouse
Journalist
oriented
Metropolitan
Interested in
societal issues
Metropolitan
Involved in
politics
Less salient
City center
 strong
National
stakes of
local events
 weak
Mutual interest
between
authors and
audiences
Average
similarity with
authors
Strong
Strong
similarity with
similarity
authors
with authors

9. Positioning in local landscape
Mars Actu
Chez Albert
Carré
d’Info
Libé
Toulouse
Location
City center
City center
City center
City center
Relations
to
politicians
Reputed
Sollicitation
Opposition
Known
Known
Low
recognitio
n
Known
Low
recognition
Relations
to other
medias
Reputed
Tensions with
local print
newspaper
Reputed
Strong
integration
to local
media
landscape
Appart
from local
media
landscape
Appart from
local media
landscape

10. Conclusion
Partial renewal of journalists/audiences relations :
Real but still limited participative processes in news building.
Developping online and offline spaces for interaction
Strong urban identity of news websites and audiences (VS rural
identity of local print newspapers) geographical proximity with
sociological component
Strong sociological closeness: high education, young adults,
interest towards politics
Developping local integration in media and political
environment
 Renewing and developping relations to audiences
neglected by local print newspapers