The Role of Podcasting in
Hyperlocal News Sustainability

A comprehensive literature review examining how podcasting technologies and practices contribute to the sustainability of hyperlocal journalism

Research Overview

Analysis of 119+ peer-reviewed papers and research articles from 2015-2025 examining podcasting's impact on local journalism

119+

Papers Analyzed

2015-2025

Publication Period

5

Key Themes

Executive Summary

This literature review examines the emerging role of podcasting in hyperlocal news sustainability, analyzing research from multiple academic databases. The review identifies five key thematic areas: audience engagement strategies, monetization models, editorial independence, technological innovations, and community impact. While podcasting shows promise for strengthening local media ecosystems through enhanced community engagement and diversified revenue streams, significant research gaps remain regarding long-term sustainability metrics and scalable implementation models.

Key Research Themes

Five critical areas shaping podcasting's role in hyperlocal news sustainability

Audience Engagement and Community Building

Key Findings

  • Podcasts strengthen community ties through locally salient storytelling
  • Independent creators dominate native local podcast offerings
  • Local radio adopts podcast formats to reach younger audiences
  • Audio format enables intimate storytelling and emotional connection

Research Methodologies

  • Qualitative interviews with practitioners
  • Newsroom observations
  • Quantitative content analysis
  • Case studies of local media transitions

Research Gap

Longitudinal audience metrics linking podcast engagement to measurable civic outcomes are scarce.

Monetization Models and Financial Sustainability

Revenue Models

Crowdfunding/Membership Promising
Subscriptions/Paywalls Variable
Advertising Challenging
Hybrid Models Most Viable

Key Insights

  • Revenue diversification is critical for sustainability
  • Community ties enhance funding success
  • Scale limitations affect advertising viability
  • Dependency risks remain with dominant funders

Editorial Independence and Journalistic Integrity

Opportunities

  • Editorial renewal and alternative framing
  • Greater editorial control for independent creators
  • "Slow journalism" approaches enable deeper exploration

Challenges

  • Funding source dependency risks
  • Limited resources for fact-checking
  • Pressure to maintain audience engagement

Technological Challenges and Innovations

AI-Driven Solutions

  • Automated podcast production tools
  • Content summarization and transcription
  • Topic segmentation for improved accessibility
  • Human-AI collaboration in content creation

Impact Areas

Production Costs

Reduced through automation

Accessibility

Enhanced through searchability

Barriers to Entry

Continually declining

Community Impact and Local Media Ecosystem Effects

Ecosystem Diversity

Contributes to media resilience

Information Gaps

Fills voids left by traditional media

Cultural Expression

Strengthens local identity

Key Research Findings

Areas of agreement, contradictions, and emerging insights

Areas of Agreement

  • Community Value

    Consensus that podcasting provides unique community-building capabilities

  • Youth Engagement

    Agreement that podcasts effectively reach younger audiences

  • Editorial Flexibility

    Convergence on podcasting's potential for editorial innovation

Contradictions & Debates

  • Industrialization vs. Independence

    Debate over grassroots character versus industrial consolidation

  • Sustainability Models

    Disagreement over most effective long-term revenue approaches

  • Technology Impact

    Varying perspectives on technological solutions' effectiveness

Research Methodologies Used

Research Gaps & Future Directions

Opportunities for future research in hyperlocal podcasting sustainability

Longitudinal Studies

Long-term tracking of sustainability outcomes and community impact

Causal Analysis

Rigorous studies measuring podcast effects on civic engagement

Scalability Research

Models that work across different community sizes and contexts

Technology Integration

Optimal human-AI collaboration in podcast production

Cross-Cultural Analysis

Comparative research across cultural and economic contexts

Standardized Metrics

Consistent measures for engagement and sustainability assessment

Implications for Your Research

High-Impact Opportunities

  • Longitudinal case studies of successful hyperlocal podcast operations
  • Comparative analysis of revenue model effectiveness
  • Community impact measurement frameworks

Methodological Innovations

  • Mixed-methods approaches combining quantitative metrics with qualitative insights
  • Participatory research involving community members
  • Natural experiments comparing communities with/without podcast initiatives

Key References

Selected sources from the comprehensive literature review