Rural Journalism’s Coverage of the Depopulation Crisis: A Content Analysis of Its Causes, Consequences, and Proposed Solutions in a Spanish Province

This study explores the pressing issue of rural depopulation, a growing international concern. Spain is among the most affected countries, with Castile and Leon standing out as one of its most impacted regions. Our research analyzes how rural journalism addresses the issue of countryside abandonment in one of its provinces—Valladolid—and offers practice-oriented recommendations to mitigate the rural exodus. Our quantitative content analysis, complemented with qualitative interpretation, of 226 journalistic pieces retrieved via Mynews platform between February and November 2023 from two digital media outlets (one regional and one strictly local), identifies causes, consequences, and proposed solutions from economic, political, socio-cultural, and environmental perspectives. While this case may not represent all rural realities, it highlights the importance of a comprehensive understanding of rural depopulation by both journalists and citizens.