TY - JOUR
T1 - Dark deserts
T2 - Newspaper decline and its relation to government non-compliance with public records laws
AU - Posner-Ferdman, Brett
AU - Cuillier, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 NOND of AEJMC
PY - 2025/9
Y1 - 2025/9
N2 - This study tests the tenants of democratic theory by examining whether the loss of newspapers in the United States is related to greater government secrecy. Government documents were requested from state agencies, and compliance was recorded to create transparency measures. Analyses indicate that, on average, states with a lower density of newspapers demonstrate worse compliance with public record laws. Also, states with financially weak press associations also demonstrate less transparent government.
AB - This study tests the tenants of democratic theory by examining whether the loss of newspapers in the United States is related to greater government secrecy. Government documents were requested from state agencies, and compliance was recorded to create transparency measures. Analyses indicate that, on average, states with a lower density of newspapers demonstrate worse compliance with public record laws. Also, states with financially weak press associations also demonstrate less transparent government.
KW - democratic theory
KW - freedom of information
KW - government transparency
KW - news deserts
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013599814
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013599814#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1177/30497841251357976
DO - 10.1177/30497841251357976
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105013599814
SN - 0739-5329
VL - 46
SP - 427
EP - 445
JO - Newspaper Research Journal
JF - Newspaper Research Journal
IS - 3
ER -