This qualitative study of user-generated content (UGC) in Michigan community newspapers found that reader comments were the most widely used form of UGC, accepted by 80 percent of the 33 newspapers, but editors share concern about publishing unedited comments.

This study has compared the news coverage of African American issues during the COVID-19 pandemic between general-interest online newspapers and Black news sites. Compared with COVID-19 pandemic news coverage by general-interest news sites, news coverage by Black news sites included significantly higher number of stories with African American issues. This study also identifies similarities in pandemic news coverage of African American issues between local news sites and Black news sites publishing from Black-majority cities.

This chapter examines the phenomenon and the status of blogging in the Republic of Ireland. It focuses on the social, cultural, political, technological, and legal factors that have influenced the existence and functioning of the Irish blogosphere and seeks to ascertain whether it is in good health, in decline, or in transition. To date, there is no research on the history and evolution of Irish blogging, and there are no assessments of the status of the blogging practice in the Republic of Ireland. This case study scrutinizes the history of blogging in Ireland, traces its evolution, and draws conclusions about the state of Irish blogging. Data collection for the study involved an extensive review of Irish blogs as well as e-mail and phone interviews with Irish bloggers. The authors conclude that the Irish blogosphere is vibrant, diverse, and evolving; additionally, they offer directions for future research.