ABSTRACT
The aims, functions and work practices of hyperlocal start-ups and citizen- or community-initiated information sharing vary. We know little about how hyperlocal practitioners’ perceptions of their roles are constructed as a part of wider media ecosystems. This article examines how Nordic and Russian hyperlocal practitioners define their roles, focusing on the possibilities and limits provided by the media ecosystems and models (Dobek-Ostrowska, Glowacki, Jakubowicz and Süközd, 2010 ; Hallin and Mancini, 2004 ). sOf interest are the notions of authorship, local content, community engagement and political participation. The datasets allow for comparison between democratic and non-democratic countries. The data include surveys and in-depth interviews with hyperlocal practitioners and are analysed using statistical and qualitative methods. The perceived roles vary and yet are intertwined, including those of hobbyists, community activists, civic leaders and media entrepreneurs. The specificities of a country’s media model and media ecosystem at least to some extent explain the differences.
