Framing as a Survival Strategy in Fragile Media Contexts: News Framing in Egyptian Hyperlocal Journalism

Hossam Elhamy, Zayed University
Azmat Rasul, Zayed University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journalism Practice

Publication Date

10-5-2025

Abstract

Given the economic, professional, and political challenges that hyperlocal media organizations face in an increasingly globalized media landscape, current research suggests that hyperlocal media in constrained contexts employ adaptable editorial strategies. This research investigates the interaction between power, news practices, and editorial adaptation strategies in fragile media environments, focusing on the connections between news framing, hyperlocal journalism, elite representation, and the broader media landscape. We conducted a framing analysis on 770 news items from six Egyptian hyperlocal platforms. Results revealed that sociopolitical, institutional, and professional forces influence hyperlocal journalism. This influence is evident in the framing of news stories, which often tend to adopt episodic, elite-driven, advocacy, and positive frames that reflect local elite-driven content to adapt and survive within a challenging media landscape. The research argues that in fragile media ecosystems, journalists often tend to employ framing techniques as a survival strategy to balance diverse pressures and maintain viability. The study highlighted several academic and professional implications related to media framing strategies in local media that allow hyperlocal media to fulfill their designated role in society.

ISSN

1751-2786

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Disciplines

Communication

Keywords

Egyptian media, fragil media, framing theory, hyperlocal media, local journalism, media systems, news framing

Scopus ID

105018182581

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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