Depopulation and communication: proposals for approaching an emerging research topic

Abstract

Depopulation has become a public problem in Spain. However, scientific literature on Communication has not yet paid sufficient attention to this phenomenon. This paper presents a bibliographic review using mapping technique and addresses works focused on the overlapping between depopulation and communication. We have utilised Geography of Communication to structure this review and to try to detect priority perspectives and thematic gaps. The review focuses on two approaches: the analysis of representations of depopulated territory and the structure of the media in the affected areas. The mapping shows disparate production, focused on case studies, with no unifying theoretical paradigm, given the recent attention paid to this object of study. Although this dispersion makes it difficult to establish coherent conclusions between the findings, an emerging and scientifically relevant area has been detected meriting exploration of the link between mediatisation and depopulation as a demographic and socio-cultural phenomenon. The discussion proposes potential lines of research that could shed light on the impact of media factors on depopulation processes and on the cultures and experiences of these communities.