The news media is frequently criticized for ignoring, missing or overseeing important, socio-politically relevant news. Such journalistic blindspots are often part of the 'long' news agenda, requiring resources, in-depth knowledge and investigation. In this article, we analyse what news topics are most infrequently covered by the media ‐ the micro-categories of content analysis. A content analysis of 70 news outlets in Norway (n=8182) reveals that the news topics receiving less than 1 per cent of coverage are social issues, international crime and the economy. This bottom-up perspective demonstrates that under-reported news constitutes predominantly 'eventless' issues, sustaining event-centredness as an agenda-setting news value. Finding that more than half of the content categories in the Norwegian corpus receive less than 1 per cent coverage, we propose, however, that the sum of these blindspots engenders a 'long tail' of journalistic coverage that together facilitates news diversity.
{"title":"Eventless news: Blindspots in journalism and the 'long tail' of news content","authors":"Helle Sjøvaag, Nina Kvalheim","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00003_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00003_1","url":null,"abstract":"The news media is frequently criticized for ignoring, missing or overseeing important, socio-politically relevant news. Such journalistic blindspots are often part of the 'long' news agenda, requiring resources, in-depth knowledge and investigation. In this article, we analyse what\u0000 news topics are most infrequently covered by the media ‐ the micro-categories of content analysis. A content analysis of 70 news outlets in Norway (n=8182) reveals that the news topics receiving less than 1 per cent of coverage are social issues, international crime and the economy.\u0000 This bottom-up perspective demonstrates that under-reported news constitutes predominantly 'eventless' issues, sustaining event-centredness as an agenda-setting news value. Finding that more than half of the content categories in the Norwegian corpus receive less than 1 per cent coverage,\u0000 we propose, however, that the sum of these blindspots engenders a 'long tail' of journalistic coverage that together facilitates news diversity.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88114974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trust in the news media has re-emerged as an important research topic but scholarship often focuses on the narrow question of credibility and overlooks underserved communities. This study explores how people in marginalized communities define trust in their own words. Based on data from focus groups, this article identifies key dimensions of trust and proposes a folk theory of trust in the news media: Trust depends on responsibility, integrity and inclusiveness.
{"title":"The social construction of media trust: An exploratory study in underserved communities","authors":"Thomas R. Schmidt, L. Heyamoto, Todd Milbourn","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00001_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00001_1","url":null,"abstract":"Trust in the news media has re-emerged as an important research topic but scholarship often focuses on the narrow question of credibility and overlooks underserved communities. This study explores how people in marginalized communities define trust in their own words. Based on data\u0000 from focus groups, this article identifies key dimensions of trust and proposes a folk theory of trust in the news media: Trust depends on responsibility, integrity and inclusiveness.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76980887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The proliferation of digital media has provided the public with an abundance of information and pathways to engage with that information. Alongside the opportunities offered by this wealth of content exist feelings of, and worries over, news and information overload. Research has indicated that to respond to this issue, some news consumers proactively scan the news. When such activity fails, or in some cases before it ever begins, other news consumers disconnect from the news altogether. Through a non-random online survey, this study advances empirical understandings of the news overload and individuals' responses to that overload by proposing a more holistic way to measure news overload. By examining the ways in which content characteristics and news topics influence individuals' feelings of overload and how scanning or avoidance of and from the news may result, this study finds that information overload, and news overload more specifically, can be connected to the characteristics of news content and the topic of coverage.
{"title":"Unpacking overload: Examining the impact of content characteristics and news topics on news overload","authors":"Angela M. Lee, A. Holton, Victoria Y. Chen","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00002_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00002_1","url":null,"abstract":"The proliferation of digital media has provided the public with an abundance of information and pathways to engage with that information. Alongside the opportunities offered by this wealth of content exist feelings of, and worries over, news and information overload. Research has indicated\u0000 that to respond to this issue, some news consumers proactively scan the news. When such activity fails, or in some cases before it ever begins, other news consumers disconnect from the news altogether. Through a non-random online survey, this study advances empirical understandings of the\u0000 news overload and individuals' responses to that overload by proposing a more holistic way to measure news overload. By examining the ways in which content characteristics and news topics influence individuals' feelings of overload and how scanning or avoidance of and from the news may result,\u0000 this study finds that information overload, and news overload more specifically, can be connected to the characteristics of news content and the topic of coverage.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90355334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This research examines coverage of refugees in an attempt to further understand how media frames are actively, and perhaps ideologically, constructed. Articles between 2010 and 2015 were analysed in accordance with their publication in sixteen different news publications from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. The newspapers were selected from opposite ends of the ideological political spectrum. This research explores the consequences of these findings for the international community and for objective international newspaper reporting.
{"title":"The role of ideology in the international mainstream news media framing of refugees: A comparison between conservative and liberal newspapers in United States, United Kingdom and Australia*","authors":"L. Kenix, R. Jarvandi","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00006_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00006_1","url":null,"abstract":"This research examines coverage of refugees in an attempt to further understand how media frames are actively, and perhaps ideologically, constructed. Articles between 2010 and 2015 were analysed in accordance with their publication in sixteen different news publications from the United\u0000 States, Australia and the United Kingdom. The newspapers were selected from opposite ends of the ideological political spectrum. This research explores the consequences of these findings for the international community and for objective international newspaper reporting.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75766120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
By means of a quantitative content analysis of two Belgian net-native health news websites, this article investigates the reliability and usability of the hyperlinks in various forms of online news. Hyperlinks in our sample overwhelmingly redirect readers to government websites and websites that contain scientific information such as websites of universities, scientific research groups and peer-reviewed academic journals. Hyperlinks to information generally perceived as less reliable and possibly biased such as user-generated content or pharmaceutical companies are used rarely. This suggests that online health journalists strongly share the preferences of their offline colleagues. However, in terms of the potential of hypertext to tailor health news to the needs of the audience, for instance by including multimedia content or even simply by hyperlinking to webpages in the same language as the original, there are clear indications that Belgian online net-native health news falls short. The practical hindrances and hurdles identified in this content analysis constitute an invitation for online health journalists to consider the possibilities of hypertext in the light of how users might appreciate this practice.
{"title":"Hypertextuality in net-native health news: A quantitative content analysis of hyperlinks and where they lead to","authors":"J. Stroobant, Karin Raeymaeckers","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00007_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00007_1","url":null,"abstract":"By means of a quantitative content analysis of two Belgian net-native health news websites, this article investigates the reliability and usability of the hyperlinks in various forms of online news. Hyperlinks in our sample overwhelmingly redirect readers to government websites and websites that contain scientific information such as websites of universities, scientific research groups and peer-reviewed academic journals. Hyperlinks to information generally perceived as less reliable and possibly biased such as user-generated content or pharmaceutical companies are used rarely. This suggests that online health journalists strongly share the preferences of their offline colleagues. However, in terms of the potential of hypertext to tailor health news to the needs of the audience, for instance by including multimedia content or even simply by hyperlinking to webpages in the same language as the original, there are clear indications that Belgian online net-native health news falls short. The practical hindrances and hurdles identified in this content analysis constitute an invitation for online health journalists to consider the possibilities of hypertext in the light of how users might appreciate this practice.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85456431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study seeks to understand how American journalists integrate social media in news production by conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews. Thirteen journalists and editors from thirteen newsrooms of variety size, and multiple platforms (newspaper, radio, television, magazine to online-only news organizations) were interviewed. Based on the media richness theory, the study shed light on how journalists delve into the virtual world, build connections between virtuality and reality through finding sources, interacting with audiences, constructing communities in the virtuality and integrating virtuality with reality into the news production process. With its rich multimedia features that allow immediate interaction between journalists and audiences, social media has become a rich medium that connects virtuality to reality in social news and, in particular, immersive journalism.
{"title":"Social news: Connecting virtuality with reality in cyberspace","authors":"Yanfang Wu","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00005_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00005_1","url":null,"abstract":"This study seeks to understand how American journalists integrate social media in news production by conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews. Thirteen journalists and editors from thirteen newsrooms of variety size, and multiple platforms (newspaper, radio, television, magazine\u0000 to online-only news organizations) were interviewed. Based on the media richness theory, the study shed light on how journalists delve into the virtual world, build connections between virtuality and reality through finding sources, interacting with audiences, constructing communities in the\u0000 virtuality and integrating virtuality with reality into the news production process. With its rich multimedia features that allow immediate interaction between journalists and audiences, social media has become a rich medium that connects virtuality to reality in social news and, in particular,\u0000 immersive journalism.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73523217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study focuses on Twitter use among economic journalists working for print media in Belgium. By looking into their tweeting and following behaviour, the article examines how economic journalists use Twitter for promotional, conversational and sourcing purposes. Based on an automated content analysis of what they tweet and a social network analysis of whom they follow, the results show that economic journalists mainly use Twitter to promote themselves and their news organization rather than to engage in public conversation on the platform. In addition, the study looks into their following behaviour to investigate which actors they consider as 'potential sources'. Here, the findings are consistent with previous studies among political and health journalists, indicating that journalists are more likely to follow institutionally affiliated rather than non-affiliated sources on Twitter. Furthermore, the social network analysis gives additional evidence of the media-centered of journalists' Twitter use, as media-affiliated actors maintain a dominant position in the economic journalists' Twitter networks.
{"title":"The manifest and latent functions of Twitter use by journalists: An observational study among economic journalists","authors":"Michiel Johnson, Steve Paulussen, P. Aelst","doi":"10.1386/ajms_00004_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms_00004_1","url":null,"abstract":"This study focuses on Twitter use among economic journalists working for print media in Belgium. By looking into their tweeting and following behaviour, the article examines how economic journalists use Twitter for promotional, conversational and sourcing purposes. Based on an automated\u0000 content analysis of what they tweet and a social network analysis of whom they follow, the results show that economic journalists mainly use Twitter to promote themselves and their news organization rather than to engage in public conversation on the platform. In addition, the study looks\u0000 into their following behaviour to investigate which actors they consider as 'potential sources'. Here, the findings are consistent with previous studies among political and health journalists, indicating that journalists are more likely to follow institutionally affiliated rather than non-affiliated\u0000 sources on Twitter. Furthermore, the social network analysis gives additional evidence of the media-centered of journalists' Twitter use, as media-affiliated actors maintain a dominant position in the economic journalists' Twitter networks.","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85338951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Panama Papers investigation and the scope and boundaries of its networked publics: Cross-border journalistic collaboration driving transnationally networked public spheres","authors":"Annett Heft","doi":"10.1386/AJMS.8.2.191_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/AJMS.8.2.191_1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83944357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diversity matters! How cross-border journalism calls out media bias","authors":"Tabea Grzeszyk","doi":"10.1386/AJMS.8.2.169_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/AJMS.8.2.169_1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77618072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Skills, careers and cross-cultural understanding: How Russian-American journalism education collaboration works","authors":"M. Lukina, Chris Demaske","doi":"10.1386/AJMS.8.2.231_1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1386/AJMS.8.2.231_1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":43197,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89835107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}