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Print v. Online…what are we missing?
Posted by Kate Nacy in Quality Management, Research Papers on March 4, 2010
Study analyzes distinction between newspapers and online news.
Hoping to shed light on what newspaper readers stand to lose or gain by moving online, Scott Maier, a researcher and professor of journalism at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communications, questions the discrepancies in print and online reportage in a new study published in the Newspaper Research Journal.
Analyzing 13,000 news stories, Maier’s study compares content appearing on five prominent news sites (Yahoo! News, MSNBC.com, CNN.com, Google News and AOL News) with front page content published in 13 daily U.S. newspapers varying in location and circulation size. Read the rest of this entry »
MediaAct Interview: Heikki Heikkilä
Posted by Kate Nacy in People, Regional Studies on March 4, 2010
Interview with Heikki Heikkilä, Journalism Research and Development Centre, University of Tampere
Q: Are there successful examples of media accountability in Finland?
A: Finland is known for its established media accountability systems. There is a very long tradition of codes of ethics for journalists, a very long tradition of press councils and those are still active. The fact that they still exist and that they are used by journalists shows that they are quite successful. At the same time they are facing problems; they are having lots of difficulties to adjust with the changes of the environment. They are in the process of rediscovering themselves – and I would not call them real success stories at the moment.
Then, there are other forms of media accountability – also academic. Read the rest of this entry »
Media Act – Media Accountability in Europe
Posted by Kate Nacy in Ethics, Quality Management, Regional Studies on March 4, 2010
Media accountability is increasingly important, especially in times of increasing media concentration.
Thus, 12 research teams formed with the collective aim of examining the state of media accountability in Europe throughout the next three and a half years. “Media Accountability and Transparency in Europe” (MediaAct for short) is the title of the project, consisting of 10 teams from western and eastern European countries as well as two teams from the Arabic region. Managed by the Erich Brost Institute for International Journalism at the University of Dortmund, the project will research Read the rest of this entry »
Transitional Media, East Central Europe
Posted by Kate Nacy in Regional Studies, Research Papers on February 23, 2010
Media Privatization and the Spread of Foreign Ownership in East Central Europe
“Denationalization and privatization are among the fundamental prerequisites for the development of new (democratic) media systems. Nearly a half century after World War II, East Central European media systems were framed in a political, institutional, economic and legal structure altered after the fall of communism. It was believed that freedom of ownership is the guarantor of democracy and free press. As such, privatization of the media meant less dependence upon government. While the political views of the first non-communist governments differed widely, most of those governments opted for rapid changes in press ownership. Unsurprisingly, all newspapers and some local radio stations had already been privatized by 1990. Read the rest of this entry »
Swiss Press in Turmoil
Posted by Stephan Russ-Mohl in Regional Studies on February 21, 2010
After the collateral damage caused by free papers, a surge towards media concentration.
Recently, a normally sedate Switzerland gained unusual media attention, not only due to data theft and banking secrecy, but with the help of Ghedafi and the minaret ban, the country found itself in international spotlights. Even media outlets themselves are featured in headlines, most recently the Basler Zeitung, which was surprisingly taken over by Tito Tettamanti, a well-known investor from Ticino. The deal gained attention for two reasons: First, though Tettamanti Read the rest of this entry »
Numbers Before News
Posted by Kate Nacy in Media Politics, Newsroom Management on February 17, 2010
Associated Press agrees to high quota for daily news stories.
A deal with Yahoo Finance requires the wire service to produce 500 news stories daily, a figure weighing heavily on reporters, inspiring anxiety and encouraging the production of shoddy faux-news. An AP staff reduction of 10 percent saw the quota hold strong without comparable curtailment. With reporters monitored intensely, forced to churn out quantity before quality, an ambitious newsroom atmosphere quickly dissipates to tension and paranoia.
Read more at Gawker.
Women Quicker to Ditch News Careers
Posted by Kate Nacy in Regional Studies, Research Papers on February 16, 2010
Study finds female journalists more likely to hit the road.
A study conducted by Scott Reinardy of the University of Kansas finds women more likely than men to leave newspaper careers. Published in the Newspaper Research Journal, the study examines attitudes of U.S. journalists. Citing feelings of cynicism, 60 percent of females surveyed intended to leave their jobs or reported feeling unsure. Reinardy notes the women felt “burnt out” and “exhausted,” although perhaps it’s a question of simply knowing when to abandon ship…
Download full study here.
Professional Ethics v. Morality
Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent and a practicing neurosurgeon, reports from Haiti.
Physician-journalists like Gupta typically appear on staff to offer a sophisticated understanding of medical science, clinical practice or health advice. Not only has Gupta been filmed reporting from the field, but also performing surgery and working in a Haitian emergency medical clinic. Alas, the fusion of doctor and journalist is troubling for more than a few media ethicists, concerned a “marketing element” may linger in the story’s backdrop. According to Poynter Online’s Bob Steele, “this situation with Sanjay Gupta the physician and Sanjay Gupta the journalist is not as black and white as it might appear.”
Read more at Poynter Online.
Apple iPad Hype
Posted by Stephan Russ-Mohl in Media Economics on February 4, 2010
After news reports focused on swine flu, the snow “catastrophe“ (proving to be scarcely more than a hearty winter), and the tragic Haitian earthquake, last week’s press was inundated with a different strain of media attention.
For days, Steve Jobs and his Apple iPad camped out on front pages, occupying additional space in business and lifestyle sections. Perhaps PR businesses feel tempted to project “ad value” – estimating the millions Apple would have spent had they paid for the free publicity the iPad received via print articles, TV reports, Internet discussion and broadcast airtime – as many PR strategists would in such cases, hoping to convince Read the rest of this entry »
Fact-checking Facebook?
Study finds vast majority of reporters and editors utilize social media outlets when researching stories.
Conducted by Cision and Don Bates of The George Washington University’s Master’s Degree Program in Strategic Public Relations, the survey examines the rapid growth of social media outlets as information sources for mainstream journalists. While aware of the need to verify information acquired from such sources, among the journalists surveyed, 89 percent frequent blogs for story research, 61 percent use Wikipedia, 65 percent admit to utilizing Facebook and LinkedIn, and 52 percent subscribe to microblogging services like Twitter.
Complete survey results available here.
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