This chapter lays out the theoretical and methodological foundation for studying casual democracies through an ethnographic lens. It bridges the gap between normative democratic theory and the messy realities of platform-driven local public spheres by combining systemic deliberative theory with “ethnographic sensibility.” The chapter argues that understanding how democratic values, like informed citizenship and deliberation, are practiced requires immersion in the lived experiences of citizens navigating digital and local information infrastructures. It revisits journalism’s uneasy relationship with democracy, acknowledging its democratic ideals while recognising that civic participation now often occurs beyond traditional news media. Finally, it details the study’s methodological approach—autoethnography, interviews, netnography, and content analysis—aimed at producing “thick descriptions” of how everyday communication and participation shape democracy in Frederiksberg and Ringwood.