The mobile platform: Challenging traditional models of presenting and distributing local news in England by Nancy Fielder A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Central Lancashire. January, 2019 Abstract This is a multi-method study (content analysis further illuminated by a single case study of large newspaper publisher Johnston Press) which explores how the mobile platform is challenging traditional models of presenting and distributing news at England’s local newspapers. It creates a foundation for exploration by examining the print, desktop and mobile platforms of four daily and five weekly titles, within the wider context of financial pressures and community demands. This thesis examines the lack of mobile specific content and the reasons behind it – arguing that what appears to be an industry failure to thoroughly adopt a new platform was actually a deliberate decision forced by challenging circumstances including an increasing number of competitive platforms, difficult economics and less staff. The findings provide insights into how the demands of the mobile platform have and will continue to change news - altering what local newspapers offer and how they operate. It argues that ultimately mobile is likely to end local titles’ traditional role of informing audiences through a mix of news based on geographical boundaries. This study’s contribution to knowledge includes recognition that all local journalism in England is now community journalism. It concludes that the increasingly important ‘community glue’ of local journalism is not location-based because mobile extends it beyond geography. Also, community and platform demands are increasing at a time when local newspapers are least able to respond because they are fundamentally hampered by lack of resource. The research’s access to the top decision makers at one of the country’s largest newspaper organisations allowed the thesis to demonstrate how mobile is highlighting the complexity of balancing needs within the industry. Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction and background to the study..........................................................6 1.1 Research aims.........................................................................................................................6 1.2 Original contribution of this study................................................................................................7 1.3 Research context.........................................................................................................................13 1.4 A brief overview of mobile news ...............................................................................................16 1.5 Structure of thesis .......................................................................................................................17 Chapter Two: Continuing evolution: The complex nature of mobility and news’ relationship with a nascent platform............................................................................................................22 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................22 2.2 “Too vital not to adopt”: The remarkably rapid rise of smartphones..........................................22 2.3 Mobiles’ explosive impact on society: Devices that are immediate, constant and create expectation........................................................................................................................................28 2.4 Defensive not proactive: Is technology to blame for the state of the newspaper industry? ........32 2.5 Protecting tradition while embracing change: International appropriation of mobile news .......36 2.6 Mobile’s increasingly important role in newspapers’ digital plans ............................................41 2.7 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................47 Chapter Three: Threats to traditional newspaper models and divides emphasised by mobile ..................................................................................................................................................50 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................50 3.2 “The weekly press was an umbilical part of the whole scene”: Failure to acknowledge the importance of weekly newspapers....................................................................................................51 3.3 Challenges of creating local news within global communities on multiple platforms................54 3.4 Local news that builds communities regardless of location........................................................55 3.4.1 What is community?............................................................................................................56 3.4.2 Exploring community journalism in changing times ...........................................................57 3.4.3 Mobile lines between citizen, community and professional journalists...............................60 3.4.4 Shared threats to journalism and communities ....................................................................63 3.4.5 Mobility’s challenge to connections between identity and physical location ......................66 3.4.6 Conceptualizing community journalism in the mobile era ..................................................70 Table 3.1: Community journalism characteristics highlighted in literature review ......................72 3.5 Cost, access, age and the personalisation of news: The digital divide on the mobile platform ..75 3.6 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................80 Chapter Four: Research design and methodology..................................................................83 1 4.1 Introduction: Examining a developing platform within a long-established industry ..................83 4.2.1 The history of case study research...........................................................................................84 4.2.2 Flaws and criticism of case study research ..............................................................................85 4.2.3 An examination of the different types of case study................................................................87 4.3 Methodology: Rationale for combining quantitative and qualitative methods to examine mobile news..................................................................................................................................................91 4.4 Selecting a manageable number of titles to allow comparison ...................................................93 4.5 Rationale for adapting a constructed week of sampling .............................................................95 4.6 The systematic analysis of three platforms.................................................................................97 4.7 Defining a tangible sampling framework through content analysis............................................98 4.8 Creating detailed interpretations through interviews ................................................................104 4.9 Interview methodology.............................................................................................................109 4.9 Conclusion................................................................................................................................110 Chapter Five: Analysis of daily newspapers: Considerations from four titles across three platforms ................................................................................................................................112 5.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................112 5.2 Coding news across three platforms .........................................................................................113 Table 5.1: Categorisation of content distribution across platforms ...........................................113 Table 5.2: Categorisation by article length................................................................................114 5.3 Designing the coding frame......................................................................................................115 Table 5.3: Categorisation by geography ....................................................................................119 5.4 Analysis of the three platforms of four daily, local newspapers...............................................119 5.4a Platform analysis of The Sentinel........................................................................................120 5.4b Platform analysis of North West Evening Mail...................................................................122 5.4c Platform analysis of Express & Star ...................................................................................123 5.4d Platform analysis of Oldham Evening Chronicle................................................................125 5.4e Conclusions from the platform analysis of four daily local newspapers.................................126 Table 5.4: Average number of articles on home/front page of daily titles..................................126