Overview

Authors:

1. Steen Steensen

Journalism & Media Studies, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

• This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

• Investigates the functioning of local public spheres in places where local journalism has lost much of its significance

• Analyses two local communities in the UK and one in Denmark where local news no longer facilitate the public sphere

• Suggests that communities left behind by local journalism risk becoming casual democracies

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About this book

This open access book asks how the retreat of local journalism and the advance of social media platforms reshapes democracy at the grassroots level. It presents a unique ethnographic exploration of two distinct communities—Frederiksberg in Denmark and Ringwood in England—and introduces the concept of "casual democracy" as a provocative new way to think about the fluid, informal, and often unpredictable nature of local public spheres increasingly dominated by platforms like Facebook. Through immersive fieldwork and insightful analysis, the book examines how these communities navigate the ethical, epistemic and democratic norms of deliberation. At its heart, this book grapples with the vital consequences for democratic participation and deliberation when platforms redefine the public realm. Blending rigorous scholarship with engaging narrative storytelling, Casual Democracy is essential reading not just for academics, but for anyone concerned with the future of local democracy and the health of public discourse in the digital age.

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Introduction

Chapter © 2018

Table of contents (12 chapters)

Front Matter

Pages i-xv 1.

The Rise of Casual Democracy

Front Matter

Pages 1-1 1. 1. 1. 1.

Cases of Casual Democracy

Front Matter

Pages 71-71 1. 1. 1. 1. 1.

Topics in Casual Democracies

Front Matter

Pages 155-155 1. 1. 1. 1.

Consequences of Casual Democracy

Front Matter

Pages 231-231 1. 1. 1.

Back Matter

Pages 277-309

Authors and Affiliations

Journalism & Media Studies, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway

Steen Steensen

About the author

Steen Steensen (PhD) is Research Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences and professor of journalism at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway. He holds a visiting professorship at Bournemouth University in the UK and an adjunct professorship at Kristiania University College in Norway. Steensen is the author of numerous journal articles and books concerning the development of news, journalism and public discourse in digital times, and he is a former journalist and feature writer for Norwegian newspapers and magazines.

Accessibility Information

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EPUB accessibility summary

This ebook is designed with accessibility in mind, aiming to meet the ePub Accessibility 1.0 AA and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. It features a navigable table of contents, structured headings, and alternative text for images, ensuring smooth, intuitive navigation and comprehension. The text is reflowable and resizable, with sufficient contrast. We recognize the importance of accessibility, and we welcome queries about accessibility for any of our products. If you have a question or an access need, please get in touch with us at accessibilitysupport@springernature.com.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title: Casual Democracy

Book Subtitle: News, Participation, and Deliberation in Local Communities Dominated by Social Media

Authors: Steen Steensen

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06989-4

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media Studies, Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)

Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2026

Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-032-06988-7Published: 08 December 2025

Softcover ISBN: 978-3-032-06991-7Due: 22 December 2026

eBook ISBN: 978-3-032-06989-4Published: 07 December 2025

Edition Number: 1

Number of Pages: XV, 309

Number of Illustrations: 20 b/w illustrations

Topics: [Political Communication](https://link.springer.com/search?facet-sub-discipline=Political Communication&facet-content-type=Book), Journalism

Keywords

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