What's Happening?
Eda Uzunlar, a Rapid City native and Fulbright scholar, is leading a project titled 'You Can Trust Me' in South Dakota. This initiative explores how people acquire and trust information, particularly in areas
lacking professional journalistic outlets, often referred to as 'news deserts.' Uzunlar's research, which began during her time in Turkey, focuses on informal methods of news dissemination and the concept of 'discernment' within communities. She found that in the absence of professional journalists, people rely on trusted community members, family, and even social media groups like WhatsApp, which sometimes operate with their own rules and moderators, akin to small newsrooms. The project aims to understand these alternative information networks and their role in maintaining community cohesion and informed citizenry.
Why It's Important?
The project's focus on news deserts and informal information networks is crucial for understanding the evolving media landscape in the U.S. The decline of local news outlets has left many communities without dedicated journalistic coverage, leading to concerns about democratic backsliding and increased isolation. Uzunlar's research highlights that people in these areas are not necessarily uninformed but rather rely on different, often interpersonal, channels for news. This challenges the traditional view of journalism and emphasizes the importance of community-based information sharing. Understanding these dynamics can inform strategies for supporting local information ecosystems, whether through new models of community journalism or by recognizing and empowering 'information stewards' within these networks. The findings could also shed light on how trust is built and maintained in an era of widespread misinformation, offering insights into how communities discern reliable information from unreliable sources.
What's Next?
Eda Uzunlar will be hosting information-sharing sessions in South Dakota, specifically in Rapid City on October 1st and Sioux Falls on October 8th. These events, co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and South Dakota NewsMedia Association, are open to the public. During these workshops, Uzunlar will share findings from her research in Turkey and the U.S., and engage attendees in discussions and hypothetical scenarios about how communities function without professional journalism. The goal is to gather insights from local residents, particularly those who act as 'information stewards' through informal channels like Facebook groups or online bulletins. These sessions aim to foster a dialogue between community members and professional journalists, celebrating the resilience of communities in maintaining information flow and exploring collaborative approaches to address the challenges of news deserts.
Beyond the Headlines
The 'You Can Trust Me' project delves into the fundamental human need for information and community connection, revealing that even in the absence of formal journalistic structures, people find ways to share and process news. This underscores the idea that 'journalism' is not solely the domain of trained professionals but a deeply human activity rooted in the desire for a strong, safe, and informed community. The project's findings could prompt a re-evaluation of what constitutes 'news' and 'journalism' in the digital age, moving beyond institutional definitions to include grassroots efforts. It also highlights the ethical considerations involved in informal information sharing, such as the role of discernment and the potential for gossip versus earnest reporting. Ultimately, this research could foster a more inclusive understanding of information ecosystems, encouraging collaboration between professional journalists and community members to strengthen the fabric of local societies.
