News Organizations Research Articles

Audience Data and Editorial Decision-Making: Evolution and Applications of Web Analytics in Newsrooms

ABSTRACT As web analytics become increasingly common in newsrooms worldwide, it is imperative to understand how they are employed to meet news organizations’ journalistic and business goals. This study examines the evolution and applications of web analytics in newsrooms through a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature. It situates the rise of web analytics in the larger historical, social, and financial context. It explores the strategies news organizations adopt to integrate web analytics in news production. After discussing the impact of analytics on news production, the project juxtaposes the pessimistic ethical concerns—primarily the prediction of market logic uprooting journalistic logic—surrounding the use of web analytics in newsrooms with ground realities. Finally, in view of the analysis, we reflect on the ethical concerns against analytics, the state of editorial autonomy in newsrooms, the implications of newly empowered audience for news ecosystem, and conclude with a practical view of analytics in newsrooms.

News Subscription Motivation: Why Audiences Pay for News

In the face of accelerated losses in advertising revenue, news organizations are increasingly interested in strategies to increase subscription sales. Previous studies have found several predictors of paywall success in obtaining and maintaining subscriptions, willingness to pay, and paying for news. But these factors have not been linked together into one clear conceptual framework. This monograph introduces a new construct, News Subscription Motivation, that theoretically links different predictors of paying for news. Mixed-method research was employed to conceptualize and operationalize this new construct. Results of in-depth interviews and online surveys revealed six underlying motivations that drive people to pay for news: support for journalism, journalism quality, triggering by the paywall, community attachment, affordability, and content utility. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to validate the News Subscription Motivation Scale and used multiple regressions to demonstrate statistically significant relationships between subscription motivations and both the number of news subscriptions people report paying for and the types of subscriptions people buy (local vs. national). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of studying news subscription motivation.

What fans crave: Including sports audiences in the reporting process through engagement journalism

Even as local news organizations and their sports sections dwindle, Rivals.com, a subscription-based recruiting news site within the local sports news ecosystem is thriving. This study takes the intersection of Rivals’ success and the struggles of local sports journalism as its starting point. Using in-depth, long interviews with 21 Rivals subscribers, this research focuses on understanding the motivations behind users’ engagement (uses and gratifications) with the site, and, importantly, their willingness to contribute to the sustainability of the site through their paid subscription. The authors draw from the concept of engaged journalism to contextualize Rivals’ practices, and offer suggestions for how other local sports journalism organizations might capitalize from what draws users to Rivals.

“Unwanted guests” or welcomed neighbors? Portrayals of Ukrainian refugees in Russian, Polish, and UK news coverage

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine forced more than eight million Ukrainians to seek refuge outside their home country. This study analyzed the press coverage of displaced Ukrainians during the first year of the war in three countries that resettled some of the largest numbers of Ukrainian refugees: Poland, Russia, and the UK. The researchers found important differences in how news organizations from the three countries portrayed Ukrainian refugees. Polish and UK coverage was mainly neutral and sympathetic toward Ukrainian refugees, while Russian coverage depended on where stories were set geographically.

PDK Connection: Organizational news about PDK International

In this month’s PDK Connection, CEO James F. Lane highlights a visit to a new Educators Rising site in Pennsylvania by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Lane also addresses AI in the classroom and promotes new lesson assessments for Education Rising Curriculum users. Elsewhere in this regular department, PDK members share the one change they’d like to see in today’s schools and recount this summer’s trip to Vietnam with the PDK International Travel Program.

The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Arab Newsrooms: Potentials and Challenges

Arab newsrooms and journalists are still attempting to process how to benefit from using artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily news production. Many have started experimenting with generative AI. However, in countries with strong economies, or in newsrooms funded by strong economies like in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, news organizations have endorsed AI technologies beyond ChatGPT and similar tools. The majority of Arab journalists, however, are yet to understand what is meant by AI. Very few news organizations in the region have strategically approached the question of AI. Arab newsrooms need to examine when and why they need to use AI technologies, whether they have the infrastructure or can afford the resources. Implementing AI in Arab newsrooms presents an additional set of challenges, including language complexities, cultural sensitivities, potential biases in algorithms, and the need for tailored solutions that resonate with local audiences. The ethical implications present its own set of challenges. ChatGPT has proven to generate inaccurate data in Arabic. Resources are to be put in place to ensure the model is trained on a diverse and comprehensive dataset of Arabic text. Implementing bias detection and mitigation techniques to ensure the models are free from biases and offensive content is crucial. Newsrooms operating in authoritarian regimes have to be aware of governments' attempts to use generative AI to whitewash and promote state-centered actions and policies. Maintaining editorial integrity remains an important consideration.

Digital Newsroom Transformation: A Systematic Review of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Journalistic Practices, News Narratives, and Ethical Challenges

Artificial Intelligence (AI) fundamentally changes journalism, yet a comprehensive understanding of its impact is limited. This study presents the first systematic review to thoroughly analyze the influence of AI on journalistic practices, news narratives, and emerging ethical challenges. A rigorous analysis of 127 studies selected from 2478 original articles reveals trends in AI adoption in newsrooms, changes in journalists’ roles, innovations in news presentation, and emerging ethical implications. The key findings show a significant increase in the use of AI for news writing automation (73% of news organizations), data analysis (68%), and content personalization (62%). While AI improves efficiency and accuracy, 42% of studies reported concerns about reduced levels of nuance and context in AI-generated news. We also identified the emergence of hybrid “journalist–programmer” roles (52% of studies) and the need for “AI literacy” among journalists (38% of studies). The most prominent ethical challenges include algorithm transparency (82% of studies), data privacy (76%), and accountability relative to AI content (71%). Regional analysis reveals significant gaps in AI adoption, with important implications for global information equity. This review highlights the ongoing transformation in journalism, identifies critical gaps in current research, and offers an agenda for future investigation. Our findings provide valuable insights for media practitioners, policymakers, and researchers seeking to understand and shape the future of journalism in the age of AI.

Pushing Boundaries—Hybrid Advertising in Digital News Media: A Content Analysis of Media Kits

Hybrid advertising, such as native ads or advertorials, is a vital revenue stream for digital news media, but is normatively challenging, since it blurs the boundaries between advertising and journalism. We lack an overview of the types of hybrid advertising that news organizations deem acceptable, and insight into how they discursively legitimize blurring boundaries by publicly promoting such advertising. News media list and promote the advertising forms they offer to advertisers in their media kits, but communication scholars have overlooked this rich information source. In a quantitative content analysis of media kits, we examined portfolios of hybrid advertising offered by digital news media and how openly they promote the hybrid nature thereof. The results show that digital news media most commonly offer sponsored editorial content mimicking articles but also various other forms. We develop a taxonomy of the types of hybrid advertising based on their label, media format, and type of hybridity. News organizations openly promote the boundary-blurring nature while rarely highlighting disclosure policies. The bold promotion of ever-more forms of hybrid advertising discursively contributes to normalizing transgression of the iconic wall separating journalism from advertising and makes it increasingly difficult for audiences, regulators, and scholars to keep track.

AI Ethics in Journalism (Studies): An Evolving Field Between Research and Practice

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism has sparked complex ethical debates, particularly with the rise of generative AI systems. By now, AI permeates the entire news cycle, from information gathering to news dissemination, raising questions revolving around issues such as transparency, accountability, responsibility, bias, and diversity. Previous research showed that news organizations have slowly approached and adapted to ethical concerns regarding the use of AI, developing critical stances mainly due to rising AI power, growing audience skepticism, and mounting tensions within the industry between news publishers’ strategies and journalists’ anxieties. Consequently, ethical guidelines have started to emerge in news organizations, but their practical application remains challenging and under-studied, not only due to the opacity of AI algorithms, but also due to the difficulties of “embedding” journalistic values into AI systems. In the light of an intensifying discourse about ethical concerns in the news industry and growing efforts by governments and institutions such as the European Union to strengthen AI governance, journalism studies have started to explore the issue as well. However, research on AI ethics is still in its infancy, with significant gaps in understanding the practical enforcement of ethical guidelines within newsrooms, in particular when it comes to the design of AI systems. This essay critically discusses the way journalism (studies) approach ethical issues related to the use and the design of AI systems, given that the responsible use and design of AI systems in journalism is crucial given its integral role for democracy and society.

Unravelling Socio-Technological Barriers to AI Integration: A Qualitative Study of Southern African Newsrooms

This study explores the socio-technological barriers to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions in three countries of the global south – South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Through 20 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, it examines the distribution and circulation of AI technologies within selected newsrooms. Furthermore, the article explores socio-technological obstacles to the integration of AI among journalists. Lastly, it examines the consequences of these socio-technological obstacles to journalism. The article specifically seeks to answer three questions: How are AI technologies integrated in southern African newsrooms? What are the socio-technological barriers attendant to the use of AI in selected news organisations of sub-Saharan Africa? What are the implications of these socio-technological barriers to the process of news production in these newsrooms? The article reveals the challenges hindering the development and deployment of AI in these organisations, and I highlight the detrimental effects of limited AI access, which places Southern African media organisations at a disadvantage on the global stage, perpetuating socio-technological disparities between the global north and global south. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing these barriers in order to reduce information inequality, increase efficiency and productivity and improve audience engagement. Reducing technological barriers and democratising AI integration can enhance the influence of Southern African media in promoting domestic and international equity. The article therefore, propose a model for AI adoption and reduction of technological barriers in adopting these technolgies. This study emphasises the need for collaborative efforts among policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to create an inclusive environment that maximises the potential of AI for the greater benefit of parts of Southern African societies. The study adds to extant literature at the intersection of AI and media, particularly how AI technologies are impacting on specific communities of practice, like newsroom organisations.

Evaluating the quality and reliability of oncologic breast reconstruction videos on youtube

Oncologic breast reconstruction (OBR) is a complex process that requires consideration of multiple factors, including chemoradiation, extent of cancer treatment, and surgical approach. Patients often feel uncertain about the numerous surgical options and may turn to popular social media platforms like YouTube for information. Thus, this study aims to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos related to OBR.We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of YouTube videos related to OBR. Search terms were obtained from plasticsurgery.org and Google Trends. The first ten videos for each search term were analyzed. Videos were categorized by source and subject matter and independently reviewed by three evaluators using the DISCERN scale.This study examined 172 YouTube videos. Five video source categories were identified: Health Care Administrations, Physicians, Non-physician Providers, News Organizations, and Patients. Health Care Administration accounts received the highest overall DISCERN score of 3.6 ± 0.51, followed by Physicians at 2.98 ± 0.93, with News Organization accounts scoring the lowest at 2.22 ± 0.60 (p < 0.001). Videos from academic sources (Physicians and Health Care Administrators) had higher DISCERN scores compared to non-academic sources (News Organizations and Patients), 2.98 ± 0.95 versus 2.28 ± 0.77, respectively (p < 0.001).Our findings indicate that videos from academic sources generally exhibit higher DISCERN scores, pointing to a higher content quality and reliability standard. Given the increasing reliance on YouTube for healthcare information, our study underscores the need for healthcare professionals to engage more actively in content creation and dissemination.

Comparison of Objectivity, Transparency, Contextualization, and Trust Between Fact-Checking Sites and News Organizations

ABSTRACT This study compares U.S. adults’ perception about the performance of news organizations and independent fact-checking sites. Drawing upon a survey of 1580 respondents, this study finds that rating of the objectivity and trust in news organizations is somewhat higher than that of fact-checking sites. Fact-checking sites, however, are perceived to give more contextual information about current topics than news organizations. In terms of transparency, no significant difference is found. The analysis also finds that the positive perceptions about objectivity, transparency, contextualization, and trust significantly predict fact-checking site use. The results suggest that audiences perceive fact-checking sites to play a journalistic role to some extent, which may blur the boundary of journalism.

Quantifying Community Interest: A Study on the Role of Audience Metrics in Hyperlocal Journalism

ABSTRACT This study examines how editors in Dutch hyperlocal newspapers use technologies for audience metrics in the news production process. As news organizations, especially small-scaled, low-budget ones, strive to engage and retain their readership, metrics analysis provides invaluable insights into audience preferences and behaviors. However, the use and misuse of audience metrics also risk increasing the dependency of small-budget newsrooms on media platforms and metrics technologies. Drawing from thirteen semi-structured interviews with ten editors and three managers from local news media conglomerates in South Holland, our findings reveal that editors and managers rely heavily on metrics such as clicks, views, and best-read stories to inform agenda-setting decisions. This reliance is further entrenched as these metrics are embedded in all-in-one editing suites, making them a constant presence and difficult to escape in the daily news production workflow. While editors in hyperlocal newsrooms display a generally positive attitude toward innovation and metrics adoption, they also demonstrate awareness of the risk of prioritizing “scoring” over “informing.” Although this article enhances our understanding of innovation in hyperlocal newsrooms and underscores the importance of audience metrics in shaping editorial choices, it also highlights the dependent position that small-scaled local newsrooms find themselves in.

Gatekeeping in a Digital Media Habitat: The Role of Secondary Gatekeepers

This study analyzed mission statements of mainstream news media in the United States and surveyed news consumers to investigate gatekeeping practices in a contemporary news ecosystem. Data show that news organizations expressed commitment to independence, truth-telling, and crafting news based on readers’ interests. However, the mission statements never mentioned any form of citizens’ active engagement in news creation. Looking into the citizens’ perspective, a survey of 280 participants shows that they primarily expect news organizations to provide opportunities for them to post comments on news and share stories, which is the most common form of “secondary gatekeeping.” Other forms of “secondary gatekeeping,” the practice that allows users to share information others might not be able to see otherwise were less likely to occur, partly because of limitations posed by news organizations as they strive to preserve their authority over information.

Comparison of online maneuvers by authentic and inauthentic local news organizations

Comparison of online maneuvers by authentic and inauthentic local news organizations

PDK Connection: Organizational news about PDK International

PDK Connection: Organizational news about PDK International

Journalism as a Service: How Tablet News Service Influences Subscriber Retention and Long-Term Profitability

With the decline of advertising revenue, the newspaper industry faces the challenge of increasing audience-supported revenue. While news organizations must provide quality journalism to their readers, a complementary approach is to create better reading experiences using mobile news delivery. Focusing on the reading experience and building a long-term relationship are tenants of service-dominant logic theory. We study the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which provided its subscribers iPads with training and tech support while discontinuing its print edition. We analyze clickstream and subscription data to examine how participating in the iPad program influences subscriber retention, how the effect of the iPad program varies by region, and whether the customer lifetime value (CLV, discounted expected future profits) of subscribers who enrolled in the iPad program outweighs the cost of the program. The iPad program decreases subscriber churn across regions and subscriber segments. The CLV of subscribers in the iPad program is greater than the cost of iPads, training, and tech support, with newer subscribers showing higher CLV. The results demonstrate the importance of shifting to service-oriented approach in journalism and the potential of mobile devices to increase readership and long-term profitability.

“The Throttling of the Free Press in Cuba”: Exploring Transnational Journalism and Sigma Delta Chi’s Advocacy for Press Freedom in Cuba, 1959–1962

ABSTRACT Members of Sigma Delta Chi (SDX), the largest journalism professional organization based in the United States, engaged in advocacy for transnational freedom of information and press freedom in Cuba between 1959 and 1962, between the Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Analysis of archival sources—including SDX member records, correspondence, and declassified government reports—and content in the official SDX magazine, reveals three themes: justifying a Latin America section with a primary focus on Cuba, the throttling of the free flow of information in and from Cuba, and documenting transnational flows of propaganda from Cuba and news from United States-based Cuban exiles to Cuba. Communist threats to reporters and democratic news organizations increased, and news management from the Cuban government and US government influenced information flows during this period. These findings add to the histories on free press advocacy abroad, cross-border journalism, and international press-politics in the context of US and Cuba relations.

The Impact of Journalistic Cultures on Social Media Discourse: US Primary Debates in Cross-Lingual Online Spaces

This cross-lingual project examines how social media posts of Spanish- and English-language media impact incivility in user comments during the 2020 primary political debates in the United States. We analyzed Facebook posts of news organizations that hosted the debates and used a state-of-the-art machine-learning model to analyze the corresponding comments. Our findings reveal distinct journalistic cultures on the post-level: English-language media are significantly more likely to use interpretation while Spanish-language media employ more audience-engagement and factual reporting strategies. We argue that in order to understand incivility in social media discourse during political debates, we need to consider journalistic cultures: While interpretative reporting explains lower levels of incivility in the English-language discourse, factual reporting explains lower levels of incivility in the Spanish-language discourse. We suggest that we need to consider how features of news reporting (textual and visual) impact discourse quality directly but also indirectly via emotional arousal in comments.

Exploring the Adoption of Reels and Short Videos in the Nigerian News Industry

The advancement in digital technologies has indeed changed the consumption and delivery of news. Through the nature and operations of the web ecosystem, short videos and reels can be regarded as a kind of news delivery due to the features they possess for news curation and dissemination. This paper focused on analyzing the potential of utilizing short videos and reels in reaching young audiences in the news media industry and the extent to which news media organizations have embraced the use of short videos and reels. Drawing from the Diffusion of Innovations theory, this study aimed at identifying the process through which news organizations adopt short videos and reels. Considering the research questions posed, an exploratory research design was adopted. For this study, the in-depth interview method was adopted with a purposive sample of ten (10) professionals drawn from different news organizations in Nigeria. The sample comprised two participants from strictly-online news organization, Legit NG Lagos; four participants from television stations, NTA Kaduna and Galaxy TV Kaduna; three participants from print news organization, Daily Trust, Abuja and The Nation, Lagos; and finally one participant from a radio station, Liberty Radio Kaduna. Data was collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews using a semi-structured interview guide that asked the participants questions on their understanding about the use of short videos and reels as a means of conveying news information. Data analysis involved manual coding of themes. The findings revealed that short videos, particularly reels, have the potential of attracting younger audiences. The comparative analysis showed that short videos and reels are being adopted to a varying degree by these news organizations; strictly-online media organizations are leading the adoption rate of this format. The study offered some recommendations on how to effectively address challenges regarding the adoption of reels and short videos for news curation and delivery in the mainstream news media organizations in Nigeria.