Media Industry Research Articles

Audience Perceptions on Online Radio Platforms: A Case of University Students in Nyanza Region, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to examine audience perceptions of online radio platforms among university students in the Nyanza region. The study’s objectives included assessing audience perception of the programming of online radio platforms among university students in the Nyanza region, evaluating audience perception of signal reception of online radio platforms among university students in the Nyanza region, investigating audience perception of programs aired on online radio platforms among university students in the Nyanza region, and analyzing audience perception of program presentation of online radio platforms among university students in the Nyanza region. This study was underpinned by the framing theory and the agenda-setting theory. The research employed a descriptive research design. The target population was 872 media studies undergraduate students in six universities in the Nyanza region. Stratified random sampling was utilized to select 274 students in each of the universities. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, and a pilot study was conducted at Rongo University. The study used questionnaires for accuracy and consistency, and data were cleaned and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software. Descriptive statistics were employed to examine audience perception of online radio platforms. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify recurring themes and to explore participants' perspectives. Data were presented using graphs, pie charts, and tables. Findings revealed that online radio provided higher quality programming compared to traditional radio. Results indicated that signal reception on online radio platforms was consistently reliable. According to the findings, programs aired on online radio platforms were engaging and interesting. Results indicated that the presentation style of programs on online radio platforms was professional. The study concludes that diverse and high-quality content on online radio platforms caters to varied interests, offering clear audio and stable listening experiences. Engaging and well-structured programs meet entertainment needs, recommending the development of new genres, topics, and formats to stay relevant. Quality programming, optimized scheduling, and innovative content delivery methods are essential for maintaining listener satisfaction and competitiveness in the media industry.

How Does Jade Dynasty Become a Big IP? Mapping Digital Media Ecology in Contemporary China

Abstract Jade Dynasty (Zhuxian) emerged as one of the pioneering and most celebrated online novels of the early 2000s in China. First serialized online in mainland China around 2002 and later published as a book series in Taiwan between 2003 and 2007, JD has been expansively adapted across various media forms, including video games (from 2007 to the present), TV dramas (2016), films (2019), and animation series (starting from 2022). Scholars acknowledge it as a pioneer in the transmedia adaptation of Chinese online novels, highlighting its significant IP (intellectual property) impact. In the realm of transmedia storytelling, scholars have pointed out different production modes, including media convergence, media mix, and “affective modules” regulated by digital platforms. Referring to the emphasis on media connections made in the studies of media mix and the issue of intermediality indicated in IP, this paper investigates the digital media ecology manifested in the transmedia system of the Jade Dynasty. By examining the online fantasy novel in the early 2000s, the video game in the mid-2000s, and the animation series in the 2020s, this study argues that each stage represents significant turning points in the contemporary Chinese digital media industry.

Exploring Gender Equity in Tanzania- A Comprehensive Study on the Need for Inclusive Practices in Selected Major Media Houses in Tanzania

This study investigates gender equity in Tanzanian print media, particularly focusing on women's leadership. Utilizing a qualitative approach with an interpretivist paradigm, the explanatory case study design includes 12 in-depth interviews. The research unveils the impact of Stereotype Theory on employment promotion policies, emphasizing challenges related to family life and child-rearing in career advancement. Challenges in adhering to maternity leave regulations are identified, hindering the balance between family planning and career progression for female journalists. The study highlights subjective performance evaluations, favoritism concerns, and a lack of transparency in promotion policies, contributing to gender inequity. A glass ceiling is noted at middle and senior management levels. Recommendations include implementing supportive structures for working mothers, revising promotion policies for transparency, and fostering a workplace culture that actively promotes inclusivity. The aim is to create a more equitable and inclusive media industry in Tanzania.

Transformation processes of professional identity against the background of media convergence

The purpose of the work is to study the transformation processes of constructing professional identity under the influence of new information technologies and to consider the evolution of views on the processes of scientific and practical understanding of new media resources in the context of the development of convergent journalism as a phenomenon of the modern information society. It was established based on the conducted research that the values and beliefs of journalists, reflecting the process of professional self-identification, are forming in the process of choosing certain options among a variety of alternatives and transforming further under the current conditions of the information and communication environment. In the process of the study, the article identifies the features, content, and main trends in the transformational processes of professional identity and professional culture of journalists in the context of technological changes in the media industry. The dynamics of the development of media convergence are shown from the point of view of the mutual influence of traditional and new media and the tendency of improving their technological and dialogue features and capabilities in content creation and broadcasting. An assessment is made of the degree of adaptation of regional media to modern conditions of the information and communication environment in the context of organizational, professional, and communicative convergence.

Exploring Netflix myths: Towards more media industry studies and empirical research in studying video-on-demand

Using Netflix as a lens, this article identifies and unpacks three central interrelated myths – binge-watching, on-demand, and big data – surrounding global video-on-demand services. These myths are problematic because they make certain ideas about these services seem natural and self-evident, restricting our understanding of their role in culture and society. Moreover, these services provide little transparency and data access to evaluate their claims leading to a call for more media industry studies and empirical research. This article points to valuable avenues of inquiry, emerging from recent studies, that can serve as a source of inspiration for future research in this field.

The “Trolley Problem” in Fully Automated AI-Driven Media: A Challenge Beyond Autonomous Driving

ABSTRACT The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in its integration into various stages of the media process, including information gathering, processing, and distribution. This integration has raised the possibility of AI dominating the media industry, leading to an era of “autonomous driving” within AI-driven media systems. Similar to the ethical dilemma known as the “trolley problem” (TP) in autonomous driving, a comparable problem arises in AI automated media. This study examines the emergence of the new TP in fully automated AI-driven media (FAAIM), recognizing the complexity of this problem given the nature of media content and its societal impact. To address this complexity, we propose the adoption of the theory of “meaningful human control,” originally developed to address responsibility in the governance of lethal autonomous weapons systems, as a framework for governing FAAIM. By ensuring that humans can be held responsible for the operations of FAAIM, this paper aims to proactively confront the ethical challenges arising from FAAIM, identify potential solutions, and guide future research in media ethics.

Assistance in Creating a Collective Brand "One Village One Brand" for the Development of Tangkil Cracker SMEs

Intellectual property has an important role in supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Small and Medium Industry Entrepreneurs in Cipete Village, Curug District, Serang City produce Kerupuk Tangkil (Krutang) from melinjo fruit, but they do not yet have an official brand. The Community Partnership Program activities carried out aim to provide assistance in making collective trademark through One Village One Brand (OVOB) for local food small and medium industry in Serang City, especially Krutang small and medium industry. This program was conducted through three stages: preparation, implementation, and evaluation. The preparation stage involved visits to Cipete Village and small and medium industry of Krutang. The implementation stage included socialization on collective trademark and One Village One Brand program. The evaluation stage focused on collective trademark registration and its utilization for business development. The result of the program is the association with the collective trademark name and logo that has been agreed upon. The results show that collective trademark registration is very important to protect products and increase competitiveness. The service contributes significantly to the development of small and medium industry by providing practical guidance to utilize intellectual property.

The Triple Resonance of Innovation and Development in New Era News Media

With the rapid development of information technology and the diversification of social demands, the news media industry faces profound changes and the necessity for innovation. Based on the significance of innovation in the development of news media in the new era, this study addresses the current challenges in the innovation and development of news media, such as insufficient technological advancement, severe platform and data barriers, and a shortage of new media talent. The paper proposes strategies such as strengthening technological innovation and R&D investment, promoting cross-platform cooperation and data sharing, and cultivating and recruiting new media talents, providing valuable insights for the development of Chinese news media in the new era.

Bridging the AI Divide: Human and Responsible AI in News and Media Industries

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing media and journalism, reshaping processes, content, and audience relationship. This editorial report discusses the opportunities and challenges AI brings to these industries raised by this collection of studies, emphasizing the importance of integrating ethical principles and human-centric approaches to its development. These articles examine how AI reshapes content creation, distribution, and audience interaction while addressing the ethical, political, and economic implications of its integration. Key contributions include discussions on the ethical challenges posed by AI—such as bias, transparency, and accountability—and the need for robust governance structures to foster trust and fairness in AI-driven media systems. A recurring theme in this issue is the AI divide, highlighting the disparity in access to AI technologies between the Global North and South. The special issue offers insights into how this divide exacerbates existing inequalities in media production and consumption. It also advocates for interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative efforts to ensure AI's benefits are equitably distributed across geographical and socio-economic contexts. By exploring both the opportunities and perils of AI adoption in media and news industries, this special issue serves as a comprehensive examination of the evolving relationship between AI, media, and society, offering pathways for responsible innovation and inclusive AI adoption worldwide.

DOMINANTS FOR THE NATIONAL ECONOMIES’ COMPETITIVENESS

This article is devoted to innovation as a prerequisite for the national economies' sustainable development and a domain for their global competitiveness. The paper aims to highlight the internal essence of mutual relations between innovation, competition, and economic growth. It was assumed that innovation positively affected the competitive behaviour of economic agents and eventually contributed to an increase in public welfare. Regarding the period from 2007 to 2022, we considered the sample of Central European countries and the Baltic states. Theoretical generalization has been applied to systematize the factors determining competition and innovation. We used statistical methods and comparative analysis to investigate the indicators' dynamics. The interdependencies between macroeconomic dynamics and a set of competition and innovation indicators have been assessed. It was proved that the proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in the total value added of manufacturing was quite important, yet not the ultimate criterion for ensuring high growth rates and sustainable development. The dynamics of commercial spending on research and development had been ambiguous and unsustainable. To ensure strategic competitiveness, national governments should encourage innovation in their respective business communities. The sampled economies have been examined considering a set of innovation and competition indicators (e.g., gross capital formation, research and development expenditures, logistics performance, export technological structure, carbon dioxide emission, and renewable energy consumption). Considering the implications of globalization, tax burden as an integral characteristic of the national economy's competitiveness has been evaluated as well. It was pointed out that: a) a stable, understandable and transparent tax policy should be implemented to protect the investors' property rights; b) a system of total anti-corruption measures aimed at preventing the practices of receiving undue benefits should be set; and c) the business sector should improve own environmental and social responsibility complexly, introduce resource-saving, green and circular economy.

머신러닝 분류 모형을 이용한 Netflix 콘텐츠 시청 시간 예측

The OTT (over-the-top) market has become the center of the media industry, showing rapid growth since COVID-19, and the competitiveness of an OTT platform largely depends on the quality and quantity of its contents. In this environment, this study aims to develop a model that can predict viewing time of each content based on its characteristics, utilizing machine learning techniques and the recent viewership data released by Netflix. This study used content characteristics data collected from IMDB and TMDB as predictor variables, and developed classification models applying Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and XGBoost algorithms. The performance of each model was evaluated using Confusion Matrix and the AUC (area under the ROC curve) measure. As a result, all three algorithms showed good performance and XGBoost has demonstrated the best performance. The proposed model is expected to support OTT platforms to make a better decision on purchasing content licences or making original contents by effectively predicting the success or failure of the content in advance.

Laissez-Faire or Sensitive Policymaking: The Legacy of Creative Clusters on Brownfield Sites in Berlin

With his saying “Berlin—poor, but sexy!,” former Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit framed the motto for a decade of transition in which the German capital became a Mecca for artists, media industries, and creative people from all over the world. Building on a longstanding tradition of tolerating diversity and as a centre of high culture and bohemians, the city developed a new cultural-political identity from a deep transformation crisis after German unification and the extensive loss of its industrial base. In conjunction with a blossoming of temporary uses in a wide variety of vacant properties, often abandoned production, infrastructure, or storage areas, an intense creative scene unfolded. Since the 2010s, this scene has been massively threatened by displacement due to the changed real estate market situation. Over the years, the city has tried to counteract this situation through cultural policy initiatives and niche projects for bottom-up initiatives, with limited success. Against the backdrop of accelerated development of former brownfield sites and funding cuts in urban cultural policy, the question currently arises as to what place subculture can occupy in urban policy in the future. Based on official documents, books, scholarly articles, project websites, newspaper articles, and own observations, this article attempts to evaluate the respective policies in the city over time, to place them in the context of approaches to a more land-security-oriented policy, and to make clear what role the re-used spaces and buildings from the industrial age play in this.

Enhancing Organizational Performance: Can Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship and Business Continuity Take on A Mediating Role?

Facing business challenges requires creative ideas that can push into the realm of innovation. Innovation, which is widely held by the millennial generation, is advantageous for companies because this generation is good at developing ideas. However, the phenomenon is that 67% of creative media businesses in 2021 declined in revenue. In connection with these main obstacles, the purpose of this study is to identify constructs that can mediate the role of Relational Capital (RC) in organizational performance (OP). To address the research objective, this study concentrates on the creative media industry, utilizing a sample of 163 respondents. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through the AMOS software. The results reveal that RC does not have a significant impact on OP.This research examines the role of Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship (IME) and Business Continuity (BC) in mediating RC to OP. This study empirically proved that RC has no significant effect on OP, but IME and BC can increase RC to OP, with a total effect of 1.487 for IME and 0.509 for BC. Based on this result, it is empirically proven that IME and BC fully mediate the role of RC in CP. This is a contribution to the theoretical domain of dynamic capacity theory.

Youth Engagement: A Key Driver in the Growth of OTT Platforms

The current research project investigates the vital role of young participation in the rapidly expanding realm of streaming platforms (OTT) platforms. Younger audiences have been the primary driver of the rise in popularity of streaming services, while traditional TV networks are facing a decline in viewing. This article examines the mechanisms that have led to this shift in young viewing habits and tastes, and it also addresses the wider ramifications for the media industry. Key findings show that social media integration, accessibility, and a variety of material are essential for drawing in young viewers, suggesting that traditional channels need to change in order to stay competitive.

Exploring Current Media Funding Model: Strategies and Recommendations for Sustainability

Media plays a vital role in the globe as it is perceived as the primary source of information which will make people more participated in the society. However, to ensure sustainability and development, funding is indispensable for establishing, operating, and maintaining media businesses. Through a literature review and the case study of press subsidies in Germany, this paper aims to delve into the historical and current states of media funding models, exploring challenges and future directions of media funding models, proposing recommendations for improving media funding. The result suggests that the current funding model has ensured the operation of the media industry while funding with more autonomy and democracy is capable of establishing a better news environment as well as a society with higher democratic resilience.

InfoQ: Certifying credible providers of digital health information

Abstract Background Access to accurate health information is crucial. Despite the abundance of information online, sorting through it can be overwhelming, especially with the spread of misinformation. This poses a threat to public health and challenges health literacy. Efforts to combat misinformation are struggling due to the rapid growth of available information. We need complementary strategies, such as promoting trustworthy information sources. An initiative by Bertelsmann Stiftung, aims to counter misinformation by promoting health information from credible sources. Methods In 2021, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine outlined principles for identifying credible health information sources, endorsed globally by the WHO and embraced by the social media industry. However, these principles lack operationalization, leaving indicators for credibility undefined. To address this gap, Bertelsmann Stiftung, in collaboration with German experts, conducted workshops in 2023 to draft evaluation criteria. Their ongoing work, alongside initiatives by the Careum Foundation and Gesundheit Österreich GmbH will be presented. Results The criteria focus on structure (e.g., the expertise of providers) and process (e.g., methods for identifying relevant evidence) rather than outcome (i.e., the quality of each piece of information), and are based on the domains science-basis, transparency and legitimacy. Mandatory and complementary criteria allow a two-step approach to identify health information providers of good quality (meeting all mandatory criteria) and excellent quality (meeting all criteria). Conclusions These criteria build the basis of the establishment of an international certification system and represent a crucial measure to combat misinformation and promote population health literacy. Various international partners and social platforms have already reached a strong consensus on the relevance of the project goals and expressed their willingness to deepen their efforts in this regard.

Personalized movie recommendation in IoT-enhanced systems using graph convolutional network and multi-layer perceptron

Exploring the optimization of communication strategies for animation films in the context of cross-cultural communication, this research integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) and convolutional networks. The research constructs a collaborative filtering (CF) movie recommendation model based on a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) and investigates its application in cross-cultural communication. The fusion of IoT and convolutional networks in movie communication is also analyzed, and the effectiveness of the proposed GCN-CF model is validated through comparative experiments. The results indicate that, compared to other models, the GCN-CF model achieves the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) on the MovieLens 100 K and MovieLens 1 M datasets, with values of 0.8762 and 0.8275, respectively. Compared to traditional models, the GCN-CF model exhibits significantly superior performance in terms of RMSE, with reductions ranging from 0.6 to 5.2%, highlighting its heightened detection accuracy and overall performance. Moreover, the performance of the GCN-CF model is enhanced after introducing attention mechanisms and auxiliary information on both datasets, showing an improvement of 0.4% compared to the scenario without these additions. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of attention mechanisms and auxiliary information. Finally, the research presents an animation film communication strategy based on IoT and convolutional networks, offering novel insights for film production and communication, along with positive implications for cultural exchange and the advancement of the global media industry.

From Nollywood to the World: A Cultural Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis of Nollywood Films on Netflix

This study examines the transnationalization of the Nollywood industry in the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix. As nonwestern film industries begin to find global audiences beyond their local space, ideological underpinnings of these industries also continue to shift and become more apparent. The need to compete for global capital while retaining the cultural flavor of the South has been a major challenge of many transnational media industries. Taking Nollywood as a case study, this study argues that the production of Nollywood films on Netflix goes beyond the quest to find global market, instead economic interest, the need to appeal to global audience by producing multicultural relevant content and promulgating a Nigerian identity that non-African audience can understand are important areas that should be considered. Contextualized within the theories of cultural studies and political economy and the method of critical discourse analysis, the study accentuates the changing discourse of the new Nollywood cinema and what it means for critical cultural scholarship of media and communication, especially in the Global South.

Pendekatan One Villace One Product (OVOP) Untuk Meningkatkan Daya Saing Unggulan Industri Kecil Menengah di Desa Lampisang Kabupaten Aceh Besar

As technology advances, it encourages small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to utilize technology in marketing their products to boost the regional or national economy. The Lampisang area has SMEs that run similar businesses but compete despite being neighbors, without promoting the name of the region. The One Village One Product (OVOP) program is expected to enhance local potential in a specific area/region, thereby addressing poverty and unemployment. The main objective of this community service is to provide an understanding of the products produced by SMEs in Lampisang village, Aceh Besar, to promote their village as One Village One Product. This aims to improve the competitive advantage of small and medium industries in Lampisang village, Aceh Besar, through this counseling. It is expected that this community service will give SMEs new ideas and insights on how to increase the competitive advantage of small and medium industries in the village. This service is conducted through counseling with the One Village One Product (OVOP) approach to enhance the competitive advantage of small and medium industries in Lampisang village, Aceh Besar. Data collection techniques involve field surveys and information from village officials, followed by interviews with SMEs based on the gathered data. The counseling is conducted face-to-face, with a question-and-answer session providing solutions to any problems encountered so far. The findings during the counseling show that many SMEs have never heard of OVOP. Thus, in the future, SMEs have suggested that community service continues with different themes to help them become more confident and motivated in running their businesses.

Pandemic-induced online internships as situated, bounded, inclusive learning: a Philippine mixed methods study

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic rattled educational institutions to implement an online internship arrangement with their industry partners. Journalism felt the same experience, at least in the Philippines where the government had mandated online learning given full school closures for 566 schooldays. This mixed methods study documented the case of a Philippine journalism school, its interns and its news media industry partners on how two rounds of online internship arrangements happened. The study integrated quantitative results from an internship evaluation sheet (N = 129) with qualitative findings from key informant interviews (N = 11) with journalist-mentors and from interns' reflection papers (N = 110). The situated learning and boundary theories, plus the inclusive education concept, provided the theoretical lenses for this paper. It was found that the pandemic-tailored online internship became an inclusive education setup that had normalized telework as the situated, bounded learning milieu of the interns. Should future natural and man-made disruptions come, journalism schools can resurface the lessons of conducting crisis-tailored online internships to reduce worrisome negative outcomes that a pandemic like COVID-19 wrought.