The Internet and professional journalism: content, practice and values in Irish online news John O’Sullivan, B.Comm., PgDip. in Journalism, M.A. in Communication (research) Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the award of PhD in Communication Dublin City University School of Communications Supervisor: Dr Patrick Brereton July 2011 I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of PhD in Communication is entirely my own work, that I have exercised reasonable care to ensure that the work is original, and does not to the best of my knowledge breach any law of copyright, and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: ____________ (Candidate) ID No.: 98970011 Date: _______ ii Abstract Journalism’s encounter with the Internet has engendered a multi-layered debate concerning the place of established news media and its practitioners in public communication. The Internet and its affordances re-animate familiar themes in discussions of journalism, not least concerning power relations, gate-keeping and objectivity claims. In many popular and some academic analyses, so-called ‘traditional’ journalism is under examination because of economic forces driving the development of digital networked media, but also because the univocal nature of older media, with its enclosed culture, is considered at odds with the potential of a reconstituted public sphere founded in the open, interactive system of emerging spaces. This study, related to a wider European research project, investigates the inter- meshing of Irish journalism’s professional output, practices and normative values, as materialized online and as expressed in the opinions and attitudes of practising journalists as expert respondents, with the potentialities of the Internet. Where much of the discourse to date is framed in a narrative of progress or, similarly, posits a research timeline maturing from examination of outputs to constructivist investigation of news work processes, this study seeks to find commonalities between professional journalism, as expressed in print, and the evolving online information ecology, and to critically examine claims of advancement. iii To Emer, Jack and Sally iv Acknowledgements I am deeply indebted to several people who, together, have been made possible the completion of this study. Patrick Brereton has my undying gratitude for his inspirational wisdom, curiosity, insight, and enthusiasm, as well as his extraordinary patience. His efforts in this project have extended beyond the limits, even by the most liberal measure, of a supervisor’s duties. I also should thank him for his persistence in cheerfully greeting me, until relatively recently, as ‘young man.’ My thanks go to Eddie Holt for broadening my horizons in early discussions, all too rare in the rough and tumble of a night desk, about newspapers, journalism, Ireland and the world. Paul McNamara, with Eddie, steered me back into education and also into tentative first steps in thinking about news and the Internet. Along with encouragement and enthusiasm, Brian Trench gave example in teaching and learning, in getting things done, and in connecting with other researchers. Paschal Preston opened up new avenues for me in thinking about technology and work beyond the media mantras, and generously provided additional guidance. Eve Merton gave invaluable assistance with meeting collaborative deadlines in the final phase of content coding. Others at the School of Communications afforded collective and individual support, and formed a space to think in a collegiate environment which it has been a privilege to share. I am also grateful to those journalists who generously took part in this study, and in earlier work. The COST A20 network was, for me, a voyage of discovery in European collaborative research. I am indebted to the network’s organizers, and to each of the newspaper sub-group members with whom I have worked and debated across Europe. I was deeply impressed by the energy and wisdom of all of those who took part in discussions shaping the group research with which my individual efforts are inter- linked. In this regard, I especially owe heartfelt thanks to Leopoldina Fortunati, Ari Heinonen, and Richard van der Wurff. v Table of Contents ABSTRACT............................................................................................................... III LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... IX LIST OF IMAGES.................................................................................................... XI CHAPTER 1. THE RESEARCH IN CONTEXT .....................................................1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................1 Economic and industrial background...................................................................................................5 Journalism in Irish public life .............................................................................................................10 The approach of this research .............................................................................................................13 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW – NEW MEDIA TRANSFORMATIONS AND CONTINUITIES ....................................................18 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................18 Technology, change and control..........................................................................................................19 Political economy and lessons from history........................................................................................26 Hopes and fears sustained....................................................................................................................43 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................48 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW – JOURNALISM AS A PROFESSION, ITS VALUES AND ITS FAILINGS ........................................................................52 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................52 Journalism in theory: multiple perspectives ......................................................................................53 Ethics and professionalism ..................................................................................................................61 Journalism’s critics ..............................................................................................................................71 Summary ...............................................................................................................................................79 vi CHAPTER 4: LITERATURE REVIEW – NEWS, JOURNALISM AND THE INTERNET.................................................................................................................83 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................83 The broad debate..................................................................................................................................83 Technology, formats and platforms ....................................................................................................86 Interactivity.........................................................................................................................................100 Hyperlinks...........................................................................................................................................106 Slow and cautious in Europe .............................................................................................................108 User-generated content: crowds, wisdom and credibility ...............................................................110 Citizens and participation..................................................................................................................118 Professional work ...............................................................................................................................122 Research in Ireland ............................................................................................................................126 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................128 CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..................................................132 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................132 Context re-visited................................................................................................................................134 Research elements ..............................................................................................................................135 Summary .............................................................................................................................................149