The Impact of Changing Media Technology on the Practice of Journalism
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The impact of changing media technology on the practice of journalism. by Margaret Anne Knight A thesis submitted in fulfilment for the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy etc) at the University of Central Lancashire October 2016 STUDENT DECLARATION FORM Concurrent registration for two or more academic awards Either *I declare that while registered as a candidate for the research degree, I have not been a registered candidate or enrolled student for another award of the University or other academic or professional institution Material submitted for another award Either *I declare that no material contained in the thesis has been used in any other submission for an academic award and is solely my own work The impact of changing media technology on the practice of journalism. The works presented here constitute an examination of the impact of new media technologies (focusing on social media) on the practice of journalism, with an emphasis on integrating empirical and sociological research. The use of a combination of content analysis, interviews and personal reflections and columns by journalists, case studies and observations, serves to verify and triangulate the evidence. The use of a comprehensive model to examine and analyse media products is a substantial contribution to the field of journalism studies. Previous studies that focused on new media technologies tended to either simply describe these technologies and their potential for change, or to analyse them purely in relationship to older technologies and processes, reducing both forms of practice to a tautological definition: each is that which the other is not. Taking a clear snapshot of the current landscape, and examining it without reference to specific technologies or past practices, the model allows for clear examination of relationships and practices, without being limited by the previous analyses. A number of key themes emerge from research: the tension between the potential of new technologies to expand and improve journalistic practice and output is countered by the fear that the technology will render journalists and their practices redundant. The impact of economic forces is also apparent in the research. The economic structures that underpin journalism were undergoing substantial changes as new media was introduced, and have undergone additional changes as a result of the social and usage changes that technology has wrought. Technology cannot be abstracted from society and economics, and this interrelationship is apparent in the development of the model of the new media ecology which we developed. The work expands on ideas of the first wave of sociological research into the practice of journalism, taking the methods and ideas and applying them to current environments. The iterative development of a model for the new media environments, and its application to empirical and observed research is a key contribution to the field. Abstract Table of contents Student declaration ...................................................................................................... i Abstract ...................................................................................................................... ii Response to external examiners’ comments ............................................................. iii Synoptic Commentary ................................................................................................ 1 1. Introduction and context ..................................................................... 1 a. The development of new media technologies ............................. 3 b. Research responses to new media technologies .......................... 4 2. Technological determinism and taxonomical concerns ..................... 6 3. Professional responses to technological developments .................... 15 a. Social media and response by traditional news outlets. ............ 17 b. Public discourse on the impact of social media ........................ 19 c. Social media as news source ..................................................... 20 d. Social media in the newsroom: source and commentary .......... 22 4. Ambivalence and excitement ........................................................... 25 a. Verification, ethics and the laws of ownership ......................... 30 5. Methodological approaches .............................................................. 31 6. Conclusion ........................................................................................ 32 7. Works cited ....................................................................................... 33 Published works ....................................................................................................... 37 Blogging: a new medium, or a new form of an old one. .................................... 38 Blogging and Citizen Journalism. ...................................................................... 44 Beyond technological determinism: a model for understanding the new participatory networked news environment. (with C Cook) .............................. 65 The Origin Of Stories: How Journalists Find And Create News In An Age Of Social Media, Competition And Churnalism. ................................................... 70 Journalism as usual: The use of social media as a newsgathering tool in the coverage of the Iranian elections in 2009. ......................................................... 90 The revolution will be facebooked, broadcast and published. ........................ 105 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Introduction: Networked Journalism ........................................................................................................ 120 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Data Journalism and Crowdsourcing ................................................................................................. 136 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Citizen journalism and the public sphere ..................................................................................................... 156 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Collaborative journalism and user-generated content ............................................................................... 173 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Ethics and the code of conduct ............................................................................................................. 191 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Truth and verification . 206 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. Journalism and the law 219 Social Media for Journalists: Principles and Practice. News in a new media ecology ............................................................................................................. 233 Data journalism in the UK: a preliminary analysis of form and content.......... 265 Statement of co-authors of joint publications ........................................................ 285 Margaret Anne Knight PhD Submission The impact of changing media technology on the practice of journalism. The works presented here constitute an examination of the impact of new media technologies (focusing on social media) on the practice of journalism, with an emphasis on integrating empirical and sociological research. The use of a combination of content analysis, interviews and personal reflections and columns by journalists, case studies and observations, serves to verify and triangulate the evidence. The use of a comprehensive model to examine and analyse media products is a substantial contribution to the field of journalism studies. Previous studies that focused on new media technologies tended to either simply describe these technologies and their potential for change, or to analyse them purely in relationship to older technologies and processes, reducing both forms of practice to a tautological definition: each is that which the other is not. Taking a clear snapshot of the current landscape, and examining it without reference to specific technologies or past practices, the model allows for clear examination of relationships and practices, without being limited by the previous analyses. A number of key themes emerge from research: the tension between the potential of new technologies to expand and improve journalistic practice and output is countered by the fear that the technology will render journalists and their practices redundant. The impact of economic forces is also apparent in the research. The economic structures that underpin journalism were undergoing substantial changes as new media was introduced, and have undergone additional changes as a result of the social and usage changes that technology has wrought. Technology cannot be abstracted from society and economics, and this interrelationship is apparent in the development of the model of the new media ecology which we developed. The work expands on ideas of the first wave of sociological research into the practice of journalism, taking the methods and ideas and applying them to current environments. The iterative development of a model for the new media environments, and its application to empirical and observed research is a key contribution to the field. 1 of 289 Margaret Anne Knight PhD Submission The impact of changing media technology on the practice of journalism. The works presented here constitute an examination of the impact