Journalism Industry Research Articles

The implications of COVID-19 on regional journalism in far north Queensland: Measuring the heart rate of local communities

In 2020, COVID-19 thrust newsrooms into lockdown, affecting how journalists source, gather and report news. According to media giant News Corp, the pandemic fast-tracked its axing of more than 112 community newspapers, already vulnerable following a decade of gradual decline exacerbated by the arrival of digital technology. Consequently, hundreds of jobs were slashed and ‘news deserts’ were created across vast swathes of rural Australia, including far north Queensland. This article looks closely at the mediascape in far north Queensland from a journalism industry perspective during COVID-19, a time which saw a raft of differing and, sometimes, conflicting pressures exerted on journalists – from complying with health and safety regulations to fulfilling the community’s insatiable hunger for information. Through an online survey and long-form interviews with journalists, the study informing this article focuses on what happens when newsrooms are centralized, diminished in resources and the most senior journalists are made redundant and, as such, no longer available to mentor or control journalistic quality. It also observes the arrival of a new and independent press or ‘green shoots’ while casting an eye on the future of local news.

Experimental studies of the strength of bent reinforced concrete elements with crimp couplings of reinforcement

Introduction. As indicated in the first part of the article published in the Industrial and Civil Engineering journal (No. 12, 2023), the relevance of the work is due to the increased volume of use of longitudinal reinforcement couplings in reinforced concrete structures. The analysis of the domestic and foreign regulatory and technical base has shown that there is an opportunity to optimize coupling connections in terms of arrangement of their spacing. In that work, prototypes were described for conducting experimental studies to assess the effect of various design solutions for the spacing of coupling joints of stretched reinforcement on the strength of normal sections of bent elements. This article analyzes the experimental strength data obtained and offers appropriate recommendations for the design of bent reinforced concrete structures with coupling joints. Aim. Improvement of the urban planning system in terms of clarifying and supplementing of existing regulatory documents on the design of reinforced concrete structures. Materials and methods. The research was carried out taking into account modern requirements, as well as the analysis of the results of their own experiments. Results. The result of the work is an analysis of the experimental data obtained for bent reinforced concrete beams with coupling joints of stretched reinforcement. Based on the analysis, recommendations have been formed to optimize design solutions and clarify the requirements for the input control of couplings. Conclusions. Considering that, in general, according to the results of the work, a fairly good convergence of experimental and theoretical results has been obtained, it is possible to assume a reduced value of coupling spacing for certain types of load-bearing reinforced concrete structures. The need to tighten the input control of couplings in order to detect defects has also been identified. In addition, the need for further research on this issue was noted.

Information-bibliographical service of scientific and technical problem of „Application of protective coatings as well as protective and decorative metal coatings"

The article is devoted to the analysis of information models dealing with the problem of the application of protective coatings as well as protective and decorative metal coatings. Results of investigations reveal the subject structure of the problem, display the core of scientific and industrial journals, and define bibliographical manuals and databases. Based on the developed models, a structure for a problem-oriented data bank is suggested.

The Development of Virtual Media People and the Impact on Journalism and Communications

Virtual media personalities, as products of the convergence of technology and media, have begun to make a significant impact in the field of journalism and communication. Their development stems from the evolution of the concept of virtual characters, accompanied by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies. Virtual media personalities not only enhance the efficiency of content production and transform audience interaction experiences but also play crucial roles in various applications such as news reporting, entertainment advertising, and educational training. However, the rise of virtual media personalities has brought about profound changes in industry structures and professional models, raising ethical and legal concerns regarding authenticity, credibility, and data privacy. In the future, with continuous technological advancements, virtual media personalities will persist in exerting a profound influence on the journalism industry, sparking broader social and cultural transformations.

Engagement as Revenue in Journalism: Turning Community, Comments, and Access into Economic Viability

ABSTRACT While both the journalism industry and journalism studies research have long celebrated engagement as both a normative goal and a potential revenue source, scant evidence exists illustrating how an organization can turn engagement into profit. This study, utilizing a case study of the sports and culture news organization Defector, examines how one newsroom monetizes engagement. Through the lens of market theory for news production, the study examines what engagement practices Defector enacts, and how those successfully catalyze subscribers to pay almost 50% more annually for the ability to engage with the organization. Lastly, the study introduces, to journalism studies, the concept of market alignment, a necessity for monetizing engagement.

Investigating Mixed Methods Research in Applied Linguistics: Methodological Avoidance and Possible Barriers in the Field

The field of applied linguistics is becoming increasingly transdisciplinary as recognition for the need to approach empirical questions from a variety of epistemological and theoretical perspectives grows (Douglas Fir Group, 2016). One methodological approach that holds promise for advancing sophisticated inquiry into complex issues of applied linguistics is mixed methods research (MMR); however, studies adopting MMR to its fullest potential remain infrequent. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed methods design that includes a focus group and survey questionnaire, this empirical study investigates the internal and external factors that may lead applied linguistics researchers to avoid conducting and/or publishing MMR. Integrated analyses revealed that participants’ methodological and publishing decisions were influenced by factors such as their socialization into research practices in graduate school, the pressure to publish, and the considerations of the research journal industry. Implications for future applied linguistics researcher education programs and the impact of the publishing industry on research agendas are discussed.

Journalist Perceptions and Views towards the Integration of AI-based Applications in the Journalism Industry in Pakistan: Expansion of the UTAUT Model

Journalist Perceptions and Views towards the Integration of AI-based Applications in the Journalism Industry in Pakistan: Expansion of the UTAUT Model

Being Authentic: Gender Identity, Leadership Enactment, and the Case Study of Indonesian Women Newsroom Leaders

ABSTRACT Globally, news organizations often maintain a male-dominated work culture, with a pronounced preference for men over women in leadership roles, mirroring trends observed in Indonesian newsrooms. This study challenges the misconception that women are less capable of leading newsrooms. Through in-depth interviews with 31 Indonesian women newsroom leaders, this research explores how women newsroom leaders in Indonesia deal with newsroom inequality and in the process, how they perform and negotiate their leadership roles in relations to their gender identity. Drawing from the theoretical framework of identity and anchoring on the concept of authenticity, this study identifies the varying understandings among these women on what it means to be a “true” newsroom leader and their tactical negotiations between their gender and leadership identities. Some respondents dismiss gender differences but enact masculine leadership features to belong in the professional context while others evoke their gender identity and establish femininity as part of their professional identity in newsroom. This research adds to the thin literature on women leadership in the journalism industry and contributes to the empirical and theoretical discussions on the different approaches to leadership as they pertain to gender.

Development and labour resistance: a class composition perspective on import-substitution industrialisation in Chile and Argentina

Research on labour and development has demonstrated the significance, both analytically and politically, of labour for understanding the political economy of development. Analyses of labour regimes highlight the central role of reorganised workplaces and changing labour processes in value chains across the global economy. Research in global labour studies illustrates the ways in which concepts and theorisations of labour struggles emanating from the Global North struggle to capture the dynamics of labour conflict in the Global South and their wider impacts. This article argues that the revival of autonomist ‘class composition’ approaches can advance a labour perspective on development by shedding light on the importance of labour’s defeats when mapping the contours of the political economy of development. This approach reveals how what E.P. Thompson called the ‘dead ends’ of labour history are essential to understanding the grounds upon which state and capital reorganise to contain workers’ demands and struggles, thereby setting new conditions for these struggles to re-emerge. Drawing on insights from the early work of Antonio Negri, the article will examine how processes of working-class composition and decomposition occurred within the trajectory of import-substitution industrialisation in Chile and Argentina, establishing new labour regimes in its early crises. The article demonstrates this through original archival research using industry journals and publications from the textile industry in Chile and metalworking industry in Argentina.

What actually is peace journalism? Uncovering its (lack of) definition and related practices

While peace journalism is an often-evoked concept in academic and journalism industry literature, its exact definition remains rather elusive. This study utilizes a theoretical framework of metajournalistic discourse to understand how practitioners define peace journalism and identify its related practices. Results show that peace journalism is constructed with advocacy in mind. We argue the concepts of peace journalism and traditional journalism are not adversaries, but rather complementary.

Understanding the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism: An Empirical Study in Vietnam

This study examines the factors influencing Vietnamese journalists’ adoption of Artificial Intelligence in journalism. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, it hypothesizes that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, regulatory support, and technology affinity and incorporating additional trust, regulatory support, and technology affinity have significant impacts on journalists’ adoption of technology. Questionnaires were administered to 238 journalists in the context of the Vietnamese press. The findings showed the significant impact of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, regulatory support, and technology affinity on journalists’ adoption of AI in journalism. These results expand the UTAUT framework and offer a more comprehensive understanding of technology adoption in journalism. Practically, the study provides valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers in the journalism industry. Understanding the determinants of journalists’ adoption can inform the development of targeted interventions, training programs, and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the integration of AI technologies into journalistic practices. However, the study has limitations, and future research should replicate the findings in diverse cultural and organizational contexts while considering additional moderating factors.

No More Market-Driven Than Hard News: Lifestyle Journalists' Market Drive and Perceived Audience Obligations

ABSTRACT Throughout journalism studies scholarship, the market orientation of lifestyle journalism has been associated with its diminished place within the journalistic field. Specifically, because lifestyle journalists are often thought to entertain and not inform, they hold less social capital within the journalism industry. This study aims to explore how lifestyle journalists perceive their own market orientation and their role relative to the audience. Through the lens of market theory for news production, this study reports on semi-structured interviews with US-based lifestyle journalists (n = 30) and argues that lifestyle journalists perceive that they do feel effects of market influence, but no more than those experienced in hard news specialties. However, lifestyle journalists did perceive expectations in their newsroom that their work ought to be market-driven, and bring in revenue, in order to support the reporting of hard news.

Tale of two requesters: How public records law experiences differ by requester types

The journalism industry was central to the materialization of U.S. freedom of information (FOI) laws, yet journalists frequently voice dissatisfaction with the state of FOI laws. The study surveyed 330 public records requesters on their experiences with FOI laws, finding public-interest requesters (journalists, academics, nonprofits, and private individuals) reported a significantly different experience, including a lower likelihood of receiving records, than for-profit requesters (commercial requesters and lawyers). For-profit requesters were less likely to believe FOI laws positively impact government accountability or improve society. The findings suggest reassessing whom the laws serve and whether they meet their original democratic objectives.

“A Hard Road With Personal Costs”: How Digital-First Nonprofit News Founders Navigate Precarity

As the journalism industry descends further into economic collapse, precarity has become an increasingly useful concept in studies of newswork. While a growing body of literature has begun to consider how founders of startup journalism outlets navigate their own precarious self-employment, the existing scholarship pays little attention to journalists working at digital-first nonprofit newsrooms. This study draws on a political economic framework and in-depth interviews with founders of nonprofit news organizations in the United States to understand how these newsworkers experience and navigate various forms of precarity. Findings from this research confirm that precarity is ubiquitous among nonprofit news founders, and that financial precarity is particularly acute. Founders rely heavily on their personal and professional communities for support in navigating their precarious working conditions, and find great satisfaction in providing high-quality news and information to their communities. This study adds to growing calls for a labor turn in journalism studies and contributes to the literature on journalistic precarity by extending the concept to examine nonprofit newsrooms and their founders. Additionally, these findings provide insight into specific ways in which the burden of precarity on founders can be reduced.

English Learning Material for Journalism Courses: What are Students’ Needs?

This study aims to analyze student needs for learning materials for journalism courses at Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Toraja Indonesian Christian University. Using a qualitative approach, the study collected data through a series of in-depth interviews, surveys, and focus groups with students enrolled in journalism courses. The main objective of the study was to identify specific aspects of the learning material that students consider important, areas they find challenging, and suggestions for curriculum improvement. The results show that students value a combination of theoretical and practical learning, with particular emphasis on real-life case studies, multimedia skills, and the use of social media in journalism. Students also highlight the need for greater interaction with professional journalistic practitioners and field practice opportunities such as internships. Key difficulties students face include understanding journalistic investigative concepts, ethics, and legal aspects, as well as the development of technical skills such as writing, editing, and media analysis. This research suggests the need for a flexible and responsive curriculum that integrates the latest technology, provides teaching materials relevant to industry developments, and strengthens students' practical skills. These findings contribute to the development of more effective journalism teaching practices, which focus on preparing students for real challenges in the journalism industry.

“Being there”: How Photojournalists Navigate Making Images During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, this paper explores visual journalists personal experience with safety concerns as they gather imagery. It delves into visual journalists’ impressions of organizational support and job satisfaction in times of crisis and how that relates to the images they produced and their impression of the journalism industry broadly. In this exploratory study, scholars partnered with the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) to survey 161 visual journalists about how they conducted their work in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, exploring the question: How has the pandemic affected visual journalists tasked with bearing witness and making images that must take place in person? Guided by the hierarchy of influences model, findings indicate that visuals journalists (individuals) and their routines were disrupted during the pandemic, leading to subsequent changes in visual content produced. Moreover, journalists experienced decreases in overall job satisfaction, especially when they felt their news organizations did not prioritize their safety. This research discusses what this means for photojournalism and how professionals should reexamine the burden of bearing witness.

“This is Not a Slippery Slope” Versus “The Queer Sex Panic is Just Beginning”: Discourse About FOSTA-SESTA in Ideologically Diverse U.S. Mass media, 2017–2023

This research analyzes mass media coverage of The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and Stop Enabling Online Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), two landmark 2018 bills that changed how sexual content is moderated by internet service providers in the United States. Using critical discourse analysis, I compare the framing of 101 news stories about FOSTA-SESTA published in mainstream U.S. newspapers, feminist media, and LGBTQ magazines over the course of 7 years. Findings describe coverage of online sex work, online child sexual exploitation, and free speech concerns that preceded and followed the landmark ruling from 2017 to 2023. I show FOSTA-SESTA's progression as a topic of discourse during the 2020 presidential election and compare differences between coverage in ideologically diverse U.S. media. While mainstream news originally supported FOSTA-SESTA's efforts to restrict the tech industry and prevent online child sexual exploitation, alternative media tended to present skeptical arguments that supported sex workers and other marginalized communities. Journalism industry interventions are discussed.

Advertising in Commercial and Industrial Journals Issued in the Tomsk Province in 1894–1903

Advertisements are an important source on the history of regional entrepreneurship and trade. The article considers the development of advertising in the Tomsk Province in the context of local modernization processes. Trade and industrial journals highlighted the socio-economic development of the region. They also revealed public interests and attitude to commerce, as well as pointed at the systemic changes that took place in Siberia in the late XIX – early XX centuries. The author used the methods of historical-systematic and content analyses to classify advertisements published in 1894–1903 by goods and services, territorial affiliation, and design. Local, metropolitan, nonresident, and foreign entrepreneurs offered the Tomsk population a diverse range of non-food, food, medical, and agricultural goods and services. The ads provided information on sale details, products, current prices, new offers, sales, and discounts. The growth of business activity in the Tomsk province in the late XIX – early XX centuries boosted the development of a single trading space, both on the provincial and domestic market.

A.I. as a Medium: The Curation and Consumption of Online News Against the Background of Media Convergence

In recent years, with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology (SAS,2023), the journalism industry has gradually produced a new mode of operation which, coinciding with the Covid-19 period (WHO,2020), has led to the explosive growth of the online news industry. People are beginning to popularize and follow up their attention to online news. In particular, the category of news media with the background qualities of integrated media is gradually entering into the public's view and becoming an important part of people's lives. On current social media platforms, the constructs of online news consumption and curation have rapidly evolved to become an important part of journalism. This development has to some extent contributed to the progress and reform of ‘online news' in the context of integrated media in the age of AI. In contrast, there are also potential online news consumers and curators in the journalism industry who are exhibiting new characteristics and working modes in line with the AI era.

On the special issue for the 40th anniversary of the Japan Journal of Industrial and Applied Mathematics

On the special issue for the 40th anniversary of the Japan Journal of Industrial and Applied Mathematics