The Community's Perception(s): State of U.S. Print Weekly Newspapering in the 21st Century.

Despite the struggles larger U.S. newspapers are undergoing, recently reported data have shown community newspapers remain important to their communities in the emergent media era. This exploratory study, guided by the conceptual frameworks of community journalism and newspaper roles, aims to further understand why small-town, geographically-bounded U.S. weekly newspapers continue to be viable in the digital era. Ultimately, the findings support previously published industry reports that U.S. print weekly newspapers continue to be perceived by their audiences as the most relied upon news sources for the communities in which they serve. Despite its shortcomings, and drawing on an online Qualtrics survey, this study makes two contributions to the broader discussion on community journalism. First, the study examines the role(s), utility of news content, and trust in the small-town weekly press in Georgia and Illinois. Findings suggest the local weekly newspaper continues to survive in the digital age because local audiences remain loyal to, and trusting of, their weekly newspapers because community members believe the local newspaper and its journalists and owners serve as community builders, produce relevant, truthful, local information, and are highly motivated by community needs in order to do their jobs - all of which have long been the foundational rules guiding community journalism. Second, this study provides a useful survey tool for newspaper publishers to use, at the ground level, to better understand the expectations of their audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]