Local news at a distance: psychological distance and the formation of news deserts

Introduction. News deserts, geographic areas with little local news or news organisations, pose challenges to democratic processes. However, individuals’ attention to news may vary depending on how much they care about local matters. As an initial exploration of these dynamics, this paper proposes a framework that links news deserts to psychological distance through Construal Level Theory (CLT). Method. This study conducts (a) the literature review focused on news deserts and CLT and (b) case studies of city co-mentions in news to develop the framework that considers both symbolic and physical aspects of local news. Analysis. City co-mention network analysis illustrates how news can reduce psychological distance by make them feel close, whereas news deserts expand distance, rendering issues more abstract. Results. News deserts emerge not only from the absence of news organisations but also from a psychological void, in which weak or missing linkages isolate places and diminish residents’ engagement with them. Our case study of crime and sports news demonstrates contrasting effects of psychological distance on news attention. Conclusion. Linking news deserts to psychological distance opens new research opportunities: measuring psychological distance, reconceptualising news deserts psychologically, and connecting news to audience perceptions.