ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that local community participation is highest among the older generations and lowest among the youngest. It also shows that political news exposure has a positive effect on this type of political participation, especially so for the Baby Boomers, being mediated through political interest and efficacy. Citizens are involved in their local communities in different ways. Some citizens participate in local organizations, such as an urban gardening community, or attend local meetings. As argued in our Engagement-Participation-Information-Generation (EPIG) model, political information can function as a basis for political participation. It might also fulfil this function in regard to behaviours that target the local community. The chapter examines whether the positive impact of political news exposure on local community political participation—as suggested by the EPIG model —is mediated through the three dimensions of political engagement: political interest, knowledge, and efficacy. All in all, the EPIG model is useful to understand local political participation.
