Journalistic roles and community expectationsČakš, Peter (Avtor) Kožuh, Ines (Avtor) Žilič Fišer, Suzana (Avtor) local medialocal journalismlocal investigative journalisminvestigative journalismjournalistic roleslocal newsLocal journalism faces unique challenges, lacking the resources available to larger national or global outlets. At the local level, media professionals navigate daily news routines with limited resources, and often struggle to support investigative projects while addressing community expectations. These difficulties arise from several factors, including limited funding, staffing shortages, and a shift towards a community-oriented role. This study explores how Slovenian local journalists and editors balance their watchdog role with community expectations of being “good neighbours”, while examining the internal and external challenges shaping local investigative journalism. Through a mixed-methods approach, the findings revealed that time constraints, production pressures and limited newsroom resources often prevent sustained investigative efforts, with existing investigative practices redirected frequently towards routine news production. Journalists prioritise community-relevant topics, such as the local economy, education, healthcare and politics, over critical reporting, reflecting audience expectations. As a consequence of these factors, a hybrid professional identity has emerged, integrating watchdog ideals with community service. Despite these challenges, Slovenian local journalists maintain a strong commitment to professional autonomy and ethical standards while navigating complex professional and community demands, and they view their local media as a vital component of their communities.20262026-05-06 15:24:09Članek v reviji182298UDK: 316.77ISSN pri članku: 1751-2794DOI: 10.1080/17512786.2025.2582166COBISS_ID: 258147075sl