Extremadura and Alentejo: Digital cross-border journalism development in two of the poorest regions of the European Union

Abstract

Extremadura and Alentejo, two cross-border regions in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, are seen, nowadays, by the European Union as priorities, that is, in order to grow these two regions have needed and continue to need the European regional funds for development. Even though, cooperation is practically non-existent in terms of mass media, this is not an obstacle to get progress from different sources. Regarding Internet and digital journalism, on one hand, Alentejo has not achieved the goals to develop them, on the other hand, in Estremadura the development of these two technological areas has been slow and required independent efforts and group work, such as independent efforts in technological literacy, media investment, and journalism itself. Moreover, groups need to work together to generate ideas and projects in order to hold congresses, design programs and start companies that aim at a digital development different from current trends that do not yet fulfil expectations.