The execution of digital first editorial strategy in South Africa : the case of Netwerk24, Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The influence of the adopted digital first strategy at the Afrikaans online news website Netwerk24 and its print partners, the traditional regional daily newspapers Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad, is examined and described in this study.The theories of news routines, news selection, gatekeeping and news values are used to guide this study in answering the research questions, which centers on the flow of news articles about the alleged racism event in Schweizer-Reneke Primary School in January 2019.The flow of news is described by analysing 53 individual articles published online and in the printed newspapers.The seven-day period in which the articles were collected, covers an alleged racism incident at the Schweizer-Reneke Primary School in 2019.This study does not focus on the event itself, however, the event is utilised to focus on the workflow at the selected publications during the covering of big news.During 10 interviews with news workers in different roles at the four publications, light was shed on the roles of news workers, their digital first strategy, desk reporters, the importance of audience clicks and news values, the use of technology and social media, gatekeeping in this environment, repurposing of content across the publications, as well as news gathering views.The study concludes that the publications face numerous constraints subsequent to the digital disruptionwhich in itself is not a novel development.However, the current state of these influential publications indicates their strategic cooperation in order to survive.
Author: Marguerite Antoinette Vermeulen
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3042170943