The hollowing out of local newspapers: A longitudinal study of journalistic performance decline and content homogenisation at a major UK publisher

Simona Bisiani, Agnes Gulyas, Martin Moore, Bahareh Heravi, Institute for People-Centred AI, University of Surrey, School of Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Centre for the Study of Media, Communication and Power, s College London

Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism

Published online on July 31, 2026

Abstract

Journalism, Ahead of Print.
The strategic restructuring of UK corporate-owned local newspapers through regional hubs has enabled content homogenisation across titles and centralised editorial operations away from communities, raising concerns about democratic commitment and place-...