Hyperlocal media does not replace discontinued local news media
While local news media outlets are closing down, the ecosystem of new digital media providing local news is growing. But the new hyperlocal media is usually found in areas that already have local papers andother news outlets, and their economic situation is often unpredictable. Therefore, hyperlocal media rarely become substitutes for discontinued local news media. These are some of the conclusions from a new collection of studies on hyperlocal media published by Nordicom.
In Finland, the total value of the media market remained unchanged from 2017 to 2018. But for the media sectors, there were both ups and downs. While for example newspapers and magazines showed a weakened position, the TV industry grew, boosted by pay-TV and video-on-demand services.
In a recent article, Statistics Finland examines the changes in Finns' ways of watching TV, listening to radio, and reading newspapers and magazines over the last decades. The developments in online and social media use are also analysed. 
The research journals MedieKultur and Media & viestintä in Denmark and Finland, respectively, have published new issues. MedieKultur’s theme is "Cultural Critique: Re-negotiating cultural authority in digital media culture"; on the other hand, the theme of Media & viestintä is "Media, hope and future".
In a new study, researchers examine how close, or far apart, media and political power are from each other in four different countries. The complex relationship between media and politics has consequences with regard to shaping the public image of politics and individual politicians.
In 2017, for the second year in a row, the value of the Finnish media market showed slight growth. TV, radio and other audio media grew, while newspapers and magazines declined. The strongest growth was in online advertising.
What rules and initiatives exist to help ensure the accuracy and objectivity of news and current affairs reporting? A new report maps the regulatory framework on the European level and in eleven countries, including Finland.
A new Nordicom Review article is published (online first), titled Experiences of External Interference Among Finnish Journalists. Prevalence, methods and implications. The author Ilmari Hiltunen answers a few questions about the findings. 
This year’s third issue of the Finnish research journal Media & viestintä has been published. Among other things, this issue deals with journalism’s interpretation of economic policies, the ideological debate about refugees, and co-creation in television.
