Theorizing Hybrid Models of Peer Production: A Case Study of an Open Collaborative Journalism Platform

Abstract

Peer production communities (c.f. Benkler 2002) are typified by principles of access to resources, inclusive participation, transparency of action, and democratic work. However, the ways in which they operate and evolve depend on various infrastructural and governance mechanisms. Literature suggests that there are three key challenges to overcome in building and sustaining a community that produces open knowledge goods, namely motivation (incentives for participation), coordination (efficient organization of work), and integration (effective creation of high quality end products). We present a theoretical framework to analyze case study findings from the WikiTribune project, a "hybrid" model of peer production. This project is characterized as an open collaborative journalism model that combines elements of commercial firm-based production with that of commons-based peer production. The framework identifies factors affecting hybrid models and the impact on community and resource development.

Organizations as Innovations: Examining Changes in Journalism Through the Lens of Newly-Emerging Organizations

“…For example, in platform environments such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, novel organizational designs are emerging that are specifically geared towards producing journalistic content for these global media platforms. Additionally, novel organizations built around principles of participation and peer production are experimenting with work practices and less formal processes that offer to include both professional and non-professional actors beyond the newsroom (O'Riordan et al, 2020). By understanding contemporary organizational designs, it becomes possible to uncover new facets of journalistic work, including aspects related to organizational hierarchies, work roles, coordination and decision-making processes, levels of autonomy, and workforce structures (e.g., occupational security, financial security, socialization, and on-the-job training).…”