Abstract
In this study, the digitalization process and changing journalism practices in the local media have been tried to be examined in the case of Elâzığ. At the same time, within the scope of the study, the problems that arise in the digitalization process of the local media were detected, solutions were offered. Within the scope of this research, Sondakika23, which is totally digital, elazigsonhaber.com; operating as news sites of local TV channels, and Kanal23.com were analyzed. Also, news websites of elazigfirat.com and elazighaberkent.com, which operate as internet news sites of local printed newspapers, were analyzed. Finally, social media accounts of these establishments were also examined. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the managers and editorial staff of the selected media. Using the in-depth interview technique, problems encountered by the local media in the digitalization process were determined and solutions were offered. In addition, the changes that digitalization brought to journalism practices were determined through the interviews. As an example, the news websites of the selected media were analyzed using the Alexa Analysis System. Using the system in question, social media accounts, the number of news items uploaded weekly and the categorical distribution of these items were analyzed. Benefiting from the content analysis method, additional data was provided to the research. As a result of this research, a conclusion below was reached: the local media in Elazig largely adapts to digitalization utilizing the possibilities of new media. However digitalization in this regard has caused a competitive setting. In addition, in this research, some changes in the practices of journalists working in the local media in the province of Elâzığ as a result of digitalization were also determined.