Central European Journal of Communication

ABSTRACT: This article presents the results of a study of the attitudes of local and hyperlocal media representatives towards disinformation. Between October 2024 and April 2025, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of selected media from the Warmia and Mazury region (Poland). The objective of the study was to determine how local and hyperlocal media experience disinformation in their daily editorial practice and what content verification rules they apply. The study reveals that knowledge of the local context and the ability to quickly verify information make local and hyperlocal media a reliable source of content, counterbalancing anonymous reports on local social media channels. Due to their specific nature, local and hyperlocal media can play a crucial role in building resilience against disinformation.

Full text: https://journals.ptks.pl/cejc/article/view/965/pdf