Examining the Most Relevant Journalism Innovations: A Comparative Analysis of Five European Countries from 2010 to 2020

Abstract

Research on journalism innovation has become increasingly relevant for science and practice. The literature shows a great variety of innovations in a wide range of media fields. However, the question of what the most important innovations in different media systems are has not been addressed. This article attempts to fill this research gap by providing a theoretical framework that deals with the function of journalism in society as well as with the multifaceted meaning of innovation in a time of constant media change. We identify and analyze the most important journalistic innovations in Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom in the last decade. Interviews with 100 experts reveal diverse innovation efforts. From a total of around 1000 mentions, 50 different types of innovations could be identified; from them, 34 made it into the selection of the 20 most relevant innovations in the countries. Different innovations were found to be of varying importance for journalism development in each country. However, some innovations were ranked high everywhere including data journalism, collaborative and investigative networks, audience participation, journalism in social media and the establishment of paywalls. Further comparative analysis of the media policy frameworks, journalism cultures and contexts for the contribution of journalism to democracy is required.

Correction: Meier et al. (2022). Examining the Most Relevant Journalism Innovations: A Comparative Analysis of Five European Countries from 2010 to 2020. Journalism and Media 3: 698–714

“…Below, we present the corrected table. These mistakes do not affect the data and results presented in the text, or the article's conclusions (Meier et al 2022).…”

“…In the original publication Meier et al (2022), we made a mistake in Table 6, where we slipped in the columns during layout and therefore transmitted errors in the values. Below, we present the corrected table.…”

The datafication of digital journalism: A history of everlasting challenges between ethical issues and regulation

“…This shows yet another element of the datafication process of journalism: it is also about journalism's own fixation on data that fosters the use as well as the implementation of algorithms and AI technology in news work. As Meier et al (2022) demonstrate, many of the most important journalistic innovations in the last decade in five European countries (Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom) are linked to data. Among the top 10 spots of innovations in all analyzed countries the researchers identified innovations such as data journalism (the top-ranked innovation), collaborative investigative journalism (ranked 2 nd ), user data to foster engagement (ranked 3 rd ), and automation (ranked 7 th ).…”

Catalysts of Change: Technological Innovations Shaping Spanish Public Proximity Media

“…In redefining themselves, regional Spanish public broadcasters are beginning to innovate. This change is attributed to the recognition of this dimension as an essential element of public value in the European media context (EBU 2012;; the goal is for public entities to adapt to the digital sphere without neglecting their social responsibility (Głowacki and Jackson 2013;Zaragoza and Avilés 2020;Donders 2021;Meier et al 2022;Cañedo and Rodríguez-Castro 2024). Considering Schumpeter's original theory of economic development, where innovation is a fundamental strategy for the growth of companies (Schumpeter 1934), this dimension can facilitate adaptation.…”