Exploring participatory journalistic content: Objectivity and diversity in five examples of participatory journalism

Abstract

This article presents a content analysis of five very different examples of participatory journalism. The goal of this study is to examine the, largely untested, assumptions that news organizations and journalists have about audience input (audience material for instance being trivial, personal, emotional and sensational). We systematically ask how the contents of the five projects might be characterized in relation to conventional quality journalism as a particular genre by examining the contents against two criteria that have been critical to this genre: 'objectivity' and 'diversity'. Second, given the core role that a notion of professional 'control' plays in discussions on participatory journalism, we examine whether these manifestations on objectivity and diversity are associated with the degree to which professional journalists have control over the participatory content published within these projects. By doing so, we aim to better understand what the participating audience produces in order to get an idea of what, according to participants, 'counts' as journalism and to determine whether and how

Differentiating distance in local and hyperlocal news

“…Researchers have also been concerned with the ways in which reporting and production practices are altering in the digital era, including the interrelationships between media work conducted from within 'situated environments' but completed through geographically dispersed social and technical worlds (Rodgers, 2018). The 'boundaries' of what constitutes journalism and media markets are changing through a networked quality that has seen the restructuring of news, including faster news cycles, improved reach through new means for distribution, and increased interactivity and capacity for participatory journalism that redefine producer-consumer relationships (Borger et al, 2019;Harcup, 2016;Reese, 2016). These changes have however created concern for the likely survival of smaller news outlets faced with declining resources (particularly through lost advertising revenue) to continue investigative reporting and adapt to the digital environment (Richards, 2014;Williams et al, 2015).…”

“…The focus on rural local news is intentional for two reasons. First, 'local news' has received considerable academic attention recently and much of this draws upon journalism studies' geographical turn by noting the strong connections between local news and place-making, and how closer relationships with audiences shape mediatised representations (Borger et al, 2019;Hess and Waller, 2017). But in geographically large nations like the United States, Canada and Australia, 'local' news is often responsible for covering sizable geographical regions with dispersed populations, which complicates how news media cover place-based stories and represent diverse communities.…”

“…Second, 'rural' areas likely experience a broader range of effects from distances than urban locales, and rural news media vary considerably in their adoption of digital technologies (Ali et al, 2018;Borger et al, 2019). But the 'rural' is often conceptualised and presented through journalism and other media as something that represents a dichotomous split from the urban (Ali, 2018;Andersson and Jansson, 2010).…”

“…The research reveals a paradox of distance. While closeness between newsrooms and audiences is necessary for a sense of community (Hess and Waller, 2014), in small towns there are risks that physical proximity to audiences affects news values, which can result in the construction of rural idyll representations or biased reporting that neglect communities' political information needs (Borger, van Hoof, and Sanders, 2019;Scott and Biron, 2016;Williams et al, 2015). News sources at a greater distance from small towns -those the least likely to contribute to audiences' sense of community -are more likely to offer balanced political coverage and space for local voices on public interest matters.…”

Emerging Forms of Hyperlocal Media

“…Previously, researchers have defined hyperlocal media from several viewpoints. Some scholars associate hyperlocal with voluntarism and participatory journalism (Borger et al, 2016;Waldman, 2011). Others refer to the role hyperlocal plays in building a sense of belonging and connection (Hess & Waller, 2016).…”