Internet in the Daily Life of Journalists: Explaining the use of the Internet by Work-Related Characteristics and Professional Opinions
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Over the last 10 years there has been much debate about the impact of the rise of the Internet and other digital technologies on traditional news media, such as newspapers. The influence of the Internet on news reporting is often formulated in terms of threats to existing, traditional journalism, as well as new opportunities for revitalizing journalistic routines. One dominant focus in earlier studies is the technology-driven approach. These studies (e.g., Pavlik, 2000) suggest that news content is crucially determined by the available technologies. Hence, changes in journalism can be explained predominantly by technological developments. Despite their valuable insights, these earlier studies contributed little to our understanding of how adoption processes of digital technologies may evolve in different user-contexts (Boczkowski, 2004). A more fruitful approach in this respect stems from the integrated perspective of social constructivism. Here, the adoption of innovations is seen as a complex interaction process between professional, organizational, and economic factors (Boczkowski, 2004; Paulussen & Ugille, 2008). With this in mind, the role of social context factors, such as working conditions, workplace organization, and professional values, should be taken into consideration when studying the adoption of technological innovations in news media. So far, and despite the growing body of research on these social context factors shaping the impact of digital technology in journalism, the majority of the existing research is based upon small samples of journalists working with one platform only (often within online newsrooms) (Paulussen & Ugille, 2008; Thurman, 2008), or concentrates on either organizational structures or professional attitudes (Boczkowski, 2004; Singer, 2004). Our study is an attempt to examine how the use of Internet applications by journalists working in mainstream news media is influenced by social context factors, such as background characteristics, work-related factors, and the perceived utility of Internet use as part of the daily journalistic routines. We suggest that implementation of technological innovations not only leads to changes in the daily routines of journalists, but also leads to redefining notions about themselves as professionals (cf. Deuze, 2004). Therefore this study also looks into the relation between journalists' professional opinions about the impact of the Internet on journalistic values on the one hand, and their actual use patterns on the other. It adds empirical insights to the often more contemplative discussions of the impact of the Internet on journalism. Although journalists may be seen as a homogeneous occupational group, they are not expected to use all possibilities provided by the Internet to an equal extent and for the same purposes. Earlier studies indicate that differences occur between journalists in terms of how, and to what extent they use the Internet in their daily work (Garrison, 2000; Hui-Ming, 2001; Niebauer, Abott, Corbin, & Neibergergall, 2000). Such research often results in descriptive analyses of how journalists use the Internet. However, further research into possible relations between context variables and differences in Internet use remains scarce (cf. Garrison, 2003; Maier, 2000). This study focuses on the use of Internet applications by journalists in the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Flanders). First, we looked into the variety of Internet applications that journalists use professionally. Subsequently, taking into account background characteristics, work activities, media platforms, and professional opinions about the impact of the Internet on journalism, this study focuses on finding relations between social context variables on the one hand and the differences in the actual use of Internet applications on the other. There is no doubt that the rise of the Internet as a technological innovation has influenced journalism. Certain transformations can be highlighted, such as shifts in the news flow, in the daily journalistic routines, and in professional accountability. First, the news flow has evolved; traditionally news was produced mainly by professional journalists who distributed their stories through mainstream news media. Nowadays, the Internet, as an open and accessible source of information, provides broad opportunities for all kind of news exchanges among a wide audience. The Internet offers a platform for a potential group of (non)professional news producers, thereby diminishing traditional boundaries of gathering, producing, and disseminating news. Second, the daily practice of journalists has changed because of the new possibilities provided by the Internet. The importance of the Internet as a news-gathering instrument is no longer questioned. Throughout the world journalists have incorporated the Internet into their daily routines of news production (Hui-Ming, 2001; Lünenbürger-Reidenbach et al., 2000; Quinn, 1999; Trumbo, Sprecker, Dumlao, Yun, & Duke, 2001). Third, the traditional responsibility for news production and circulation is no longer the task exclusively of journalists. Journalists' occupational roles demand attitudes different from the traditional gatekeeping role, and may shift more to activities such as interpretation and reflection (Bardoel, 2002). The process of storytelling is turned around, as it were: The journalist presents the public with annotated archives from various sources of information that the citizen can access at a later date (Deuze, 2003; Matheson, 2004). The traditional asymmetrical relationship, in which the journalist determines what is important news for citizens, shifts to a more symmetrical relationship in which the journalist is more responsive and assumes the role of a partner (cf. Bardoel, 2002; Pavlik, 2001). In light of the changes the Internet brings to journalism, many authors voice their concerns about the impact of the Internet on journalism (Grabowicz, 2003; Haas, 2006; Lasica, 2003). Pessimists refer mainly to the negative consequences, and view the Internet (and news blogs) as a direct threat to the professional values in the field of journalism. It is feared that the increased complexity in finding and verifying information at the expense of journalistic accuracy, will foster hasty and uncontrolled reports, (Hall, 2001; Manning, 2001). This fear is intensified by the increasing importance of speed and accessibility of information that leads to heightened pressure of workload and stress. Optimists view the changes brought about by the Internet as enriching. According to them, thanks to the Internet, every journalist can consult various sources faster and more easily, as a result of which reports become more varied and gain more contextual depth (Koch, 1991; Pavlik, 2001). Optimism about these developments shows confidence that breaking existing barriers between journalists and the public may improve journalism. The use of news sites and news blogs can demonstrate that news organizations are no longer monolithic companies, but a collection of individuals who work together as a team. Especially young people, who currently have relatively little interest in traditional news media such as newspapers, can be reached more easily through digital platforms. A third strand of researchers puts the strong influence of the Internet and other digital technologies on journalism into a more neutral perspective. Haas (2005) points out that throughout history, every new communication medium was wrongly proclaimed as a radical turning point for old media. According to him, after the initial implementation stage, not much will change, apart from practical improvements, and the changes that do occur will not lead to substantial shifts in journalism in general. The ‘Uses & Gratifications' (U&G) research tradition focuses on factors influencing motives for use and outcomes for people's media-related behaviour (Newhagen & Rafaeli, 1996). This research tradition assumes that people's use of media is codetermined by the degree to which this use of media does indeed satisfy people's needs (Palmgreen, Wenner & Rosengren, 1985). This approach allows for investigation of motivational access and online skills, choice of applicatons and diversity, or lack of these among journalists. It can be assumed that journalists, just like any other user group, use media strategically, and therefore will employ the Internet for different purposes. They will select Internet applications based on how well each option helps them to fulfill specific tasks or goals (Cho, Zuniga, Rojas & Shah, 2003). 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Institutions: Radboud University Nijmegen, KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2147650337