iamcr impact internet_newsroom_wysv_stof_16_07_11_x
TRANSCRIPT
Zürcher FachhochschuleZurich University of Applied Sciences
IAMInstitut für Angewandte Medienwissenschaft
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The impact of the Internet use on diversity in newsroom production
Vinzenz Wyss & Annina Stoffel
IAMCR Conference
Journalism Research & Education
July 16, 2011
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 2
Research Questions
• How does the Internet use change norms in journalism production and routines in newsrooms?
• What is the impact of the Internet use on the research and production processes in newsrooms?
• How do these changes influence the diversity production?
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Methodological Design & Sample
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Qualitative Interviews (guided) with 48 professionals
12 Swiss newsrooms in two languages areas
7 print, 2 private-TV, 4 online-based
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Findings I: Separation and Stratification
„Us“ and „the guys overthere“
“They (online channel) just write their stories without talking to us (Tages-Anzeiger). At the time they put it on the site we (Tages-Anzeiger print edition) can see what they are busy with.”
„All information we (20 Min. print edition) give to the online branch means a loss for our paper. We are interested in keeping news as long as possible to ourselves. We use our time to investigate the story profoundly so we can bring the scoop the other day.”
„If they (online channel) want to get better, we do not hold them back.“
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Stratification
The decline
„Our generation (experienced, older professionals) thinks about the printed edition. Even if we write something for the online channel at the first place we still ‘do’ print. Many of us do not feel comfortable about it.”
„At one hand they underline the importance of the online channel, at the other hand you can find there a lot of bad paid and unqualified people.“ (Aargauer Zeitung)
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Zurich University of Applied Sciences
«Online is …«
… „appetizer“
… „crispy title“
... „not careful“
… „marginal“
… „not taken seriously“
… „without experience“
… „fault-resistant “
… „without respect“
… „embarrassing“
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„You can’t give the same title for an online article as for a printed one. To less pointed out, to less ‘tabloid’, they don‘t get you curious, are boring. You always have to adapt them, to reformulate them or to sharpen them.”
“With the „click-rating“ you can directly see which story is successful. We know, that titles from the print edition will not be successful.”
journalists who write for the print edition
an online journalist
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 7
Findings II: Co-Orientation
The Internet as a resource that brings forward co-orientation
Easier access to online media (foreign titles too)
Efficient way to find new topicsPotential accumulates by quantity
Exclusivity D+ +Reproduction
Addition
D- +
D- -
Reduction of complexity
Concentration
New aspect / redraw old stories
Increase of quantity
Stop
New search for topics
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 8
„source of inspiration“
more contact with the audience
„Scoop-machine“
“seismograph”
„democratization“
Findings V: Audience
Publikum
Chance of interactivtiy?Ambivalence
Posts/comments
„Click“-rating
UGC, Social Media„Facebook“ etc.
„gossip“, “”80% trash“
„time consuming“
„high effort of control“
„dangerous instrument“
down leveling
D + D -
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 9
„A calf with three legs and six tails is a curiosity but it is not a story.“
Findings III: Audience (Statements I)
Audience
Chance of interactivtiy?Ambivalence
D + D -
„Readers can tell you what they think, what they are interested in and they can provide you with
different inputs.“
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 10
„It is dangerous because media refer to each other. One has to take care not to be led to much about online
characteristics. “
Findings III: Audience (Statements II)
Audience
Chance of interactivtiy?Ambivalence
D + D -
„Ratings about how many time a story was clicked on is a criteria of quality. They show you if you have chosen a good
picture or if you are able to sell a story in a good way.“
Zurich University of Applied Sciences 11
Conclusion
Separation & Stratification:
• Large gap between convergent concepts and practical realization
• Lack of resources in the online branch leads to a negative image (decline)
Co-Orientation:
• News value “Exclusivity” / „Variation“ stays a rare exhausted potential
• Lack of resources forces co-orientation and pseudo diversity
Audience:
• Interaction with the audience stays rather one sided
• The technical and social potential for inclusion of the audience is not used
Zürcher FachhochschuleZurich University of Applied Sciences
IAMInstitut für Angewandte Medienwissenschaft
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The Impact of the Internet on diversity in newsroom production
Vinzenz Wyss & Annina Stoffel
IAMCR Conference
Journalism Research & Education
July 16, 2011