Exclusive news on local sites: content quality and methods of gathering information

Abstract

ExclusivE nEws on local sitEs: contEnt quality and mEthods of gathEring information In the new media era all over the world local mass media are facing financial problems, staff reduction, circulation as well as advertisement market decline. Herewith content quality became questionable, and the number of exclusive news declines. However, such news is important, because the public have the opportunity to get first-hand information with proper verification. On the example of two oldest Odessa news sites («Reporter» and «dumskaya») for 2005-2014 the low level of news exclusivity on local news sites is demonstrated (the average number of exclusive news is 7-12 %). Additionally journalists rarely check information at the scene. The situation with local news sites of other regions is quite similar. Internet mass media give preference to texts, which are convenient for the fast processing: scheduled events and reprints. This situation raises questions about the social functions performance, local news sites rarely criticize or control local authorities, thus, community engagement remains weak.