ABSTRACT
The development of local journalism in Sweden can be described as a fragmentation and de-professionalization. Legacy media is downsizing, but is still producing most of the local news. However, for local media users, social media platforms like Facebook are now more used than local newspapers and the local audiences are divided between many different media platforms. The local media sphere is de-professionalized when more content is produced by strong actors such as local municipalities and by new hyperlocals produced by a mix of professionals and amateurs. This de-professionalization of content production influences the public sphere, and the result can be a declining level of public debate and knowledge; however, it can also be described as a democratization, since it is no longer professional journalists alone who have access to public storytelling and a voice in the local debate.
