Is local journalism failing? Local voices in the aftermath of the Grenfell and Lakanal fire disasters

Book chapter


Barling, K. 2020. Is local journalism failing? Local voices in the aftermath of the Grenfell and Lakanal fire disasters. in: Thorsen, E. and Matthews, J. (ed.) Media, Journalism and Disaster Communities Cham, Switzerland Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 165-177
Chapter titleIs local journalism failing? Local voices in the aftermath of the Grenfell and Lakanal fire disasters
AuthorsBarling, K.
Abstract

When the Grenfell fire tragedy struck in 2017, the world watched in horror. Social media buzzed with comments, questions and demands for meaningful intervention. The local press was also blamed for failing to identify a disaster ‘foretold’. This chapter compares local press treatment of the previous major fire in London at Lakanal House in 2009 with its response to the Grenfell fire. After Lakanal House voices were amplified by local media creating a running story and investigating the causes and consequences of the fire. None of this translated into an adequate public policy response to fire safety. It asks if an emerging fifth estate can fill a news deficit and broaden public discourse to effect change? And whether local voices are, or will be, heard any more clearly to find remedies to disaster? Significantly, it considers whether local journalism can really matter if public authorities ignore the evidence it puts before the public?

KeywordsLocal media, local journalism, disaster communities, civic media, media and disasters, community journalism, community media, disaster recovery
Page range165-177
Book titleMedia, Journalism and Disaster Communities
EditorsThorsen, E. and Matthews, J.
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Place of publicationCham, Switzerland
ISBN
Hardcover9783030337117
Electronic9783030337124
Publication dates
Online21 Mar 2020
Print01 Jan 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited19 Jun 2020
Accepted01 Feb 2019
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is an author's accepted manuscript version of a chapter published in Media, Journalism and Disaster Communities. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33712-4

Web address (URL)https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-33712-4_11
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33712-4
LanguageEnglish
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