Strange bedfellows? The diffusion of convergence in four news organizations

Abstract

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS? The Diffusion of Convergence in Four News Organizations Jane B. Singer AbstractThis study examines newsroom convergence --a combination of technologies, products, staffs and geography among the previously distinct provinces of print, television and online media --through the framework of diffusion of innovations theory. Convergence is becoming a global trend as media companies continue to expand their holdings beyond their original core products. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data drawn from case studies of four US newsrooms, it suggests that despite culture clashes and other issues of compatibility, journalists see clear advantages to the new policy of convergence. Journalists perceive experience in a converged newsroom as a career booster, say they enjoy working with colleagues whose strengths differ from their own, and admit that convergence has led to respect for people in other parts of the news organization. At the same time, the diffusion of convergence within the newsroom may be hindered by cultural and technological differences in approaches to newsgathering and dissemination, as well as by a lack of training to alleviate concerns about the perceived complexities of new media formats.

Algorithms for journalism: The future of news work

“…And a service like WhatsApp gained more followers during its first six years in existence than Christianity in its first nineteen centuries (Frey & Osborne, 2015). However, with diffusion of new technology comes tension in the newsroom: the division of labour between "traditional" journalists and colleagues more adept at using new technology seems to widen in times of change until the early adopters are joined by others (Garrison, 2001b;Maier, 2000;Singer, 2004). For instance, while multimedia news is already well established, a larger work force of multimedia journalists has been slow to arrive to the newsroom (Hermida & Thurman, 2008;Saltzis & Dickinson, 2008).…”

How structural multi-platform newsroom features and innovative values alter journalistic cross-channel and cross-sectional working procedures

“…Singer (2004) reveals that journalists in four U.S. newsrooms consider converged newsrooms to be advantageous and a successful editorial strategy for the whole news industry; however, cooperation among people working in a converged newsroom is comparably low. The diffusion of convergence may be delayed by different newsroom cultures that evolved during separate print and online subunits existed.…”

Wandel redaktioneller Strukturen und journalistischen Handelns

“…Als weiteres zentrales Motiv wird auch die Förderung journalistischer Qualität genannt, die durch ressort-und kanalübergreifendes Denken und Handeln zu einer Aufwertung der Medienprodukte und -inhalte führen soll (ebd.). Auf Seiten der Verlagsleitung und der Chefredaktion werden diese strukturellen Veränderungen daher auch als "Qualitätsstrategie" betrachtet (Beck et al, 2010, S. 242 tionellen Restrukturierungen überwiegend Sparpotenziale ausloten anstatt in die publizistische Qualität zu investieren Jarren, 2010;Siles & Boczkowski, 2012;Singer, 2004;Wallace, 2013 (Meier, 2010, S. 100) die eingehenden Nachrichten koordiniert und die Breaking News verarbeitet werden (García Avilés et al 2014, S. 579-580).…”

“…Ferner können aus den Umstrukturierungen in Richtung crossmediales Arbeiten erweiterte technische und inhaltliche Kompetenzen hervorgehen, z. B. bezüglich des multimedialen Erzählens (Meier, 2010;Wallace, 2013), womit sich die beruflichen Möglichkeiten von Journalisten im veränderten Umfeld vergrößern (Singer, 2004). Allerdings vollzieht sich die Umsetzung redaktioneller Kooperations-und Konvergenzprojekte keineswegs reibungslos.…”