How Does CNN's iReport Change Journalism?
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The thesis explores the impact of participatory media on gatekeeping within news organizations, specifically analyzing CNN's iReport platform through qualitative interviews. Findings reveal challenges and benefits in integrating user-generated content, emphasizing the need for rigorous verification processes aligned with traditional news standards. The study suggests that iReport may represent a new community gatekeeping model, while highlighting the unique nature of CNN's approach compared to other news organizations.
How Does CNN's iReport Change Journalism?
- 1. GATEKEEPING AND CITIZEN JOURNALISM A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF PARTICIPATORY MEDIA A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF PARTICIPATORY MEDIA Amani Channel Thesis Defense M.A. Mass Communiciations 1/19/10
- 2. Background Internet, technology, & user-generated content (citizen journalism) has been disruptive to traditional media (Bruns, 2008). Scholars suggest that we are witnessing an end of mass communications (Chaffee & Mertzger, 2001). “ Future journalists will need to be trained to not only be critical gatekeepers, but also act as listeners, discussion and forum leaders/mediators in an intimate interaction with their audiences ” (Nguyen, 2006). Scholars suggest that a communications paradigm shift is underway (Bruns, 2006; Jenkins, 2006).
- 3. Research Holes Beard & Olsen, 1999 - Identify holes related to gatekeeping and the Internet. Qualitative study examined Webmasters as gatekeepers. Boczkowski, 2004 - Identifies holes related to how technology is affecting news production. Bruns, 2008 “Lack of established research tools and methodologies, and because of a limited understanding of how we may define citizen journalism itself. ” (Nguyen, 2006).
- 4. Amani Channel’s Research Examines Gatekeeping Theory (White, 1950) and user-generated content (citizen journalism). Research Question: How is the adoption of participatory media in a network news organization affecting gatekeeping? Methodology: Qualitative study involving in depth interviews of CNN’s iReport producers.
- 5. Amani Channel’s Research Reason for a qualitative study: Subject matter doesn’t have “firm guidelines or specific procedures and is evolving and changing constantly” (Cresswell 1998 p.27). Data gathered from long interviews according to McCraken, 1998. RQ1: How is technology used to gather user-generated media, and what procedures are in place to solicit it? RQ2: What are the challenges or benefits related to integrating user-produced content into news programming, and how is the content shared across the web and cable network? RQ3: What criteria are used to determine if user generated media meets established news standards?
- 6. Findings RQ1: How is technology used to gather user generated media, and what procedures are in place to solicit it? iReport community is used to gather potentially credible stories. Members upload photos, and video. Given community assignments. Generally hard news (breaking), human interest stories, and enterprise journalism are most commonly featured.
- 7. Findings RQ2: What are the challenges or benefits related to integrating user produced content into news programming, and how is content shared across the web and cable network? Challenges: Company buy-in; community participation; quality of submissions; CNN’s ability to utilize all of the approved submissions. Benefits: Community serves as eyes for network; alternative sources; adds new dimension (first person) to stories. iReports that are vetted and approved can be used by any CNN or CNN.com producer. The producers decide how content is used.
- 8. Findings RQ3: What criteria are used to determine if user generated media meets established news standards? iReports must stand up to same rigorous requirements as other network news sources. Double check/verify. iReporters are questioned about their involvement in the story (what camera, where were you, why? etc. Other CNN departments are used to verify if information is consistent.
- 9. Conclusion iReport possibly represents a community gatekeeping model. Multiple gates: iReport community, site moderators; community algorithm, iReport producers; CNN & CNN.com producers Though the Internet allows more potential sources of information, the process of fact checking remains the same. There is potential to get non-traditionally gathered news through the “gate.” Challenge in developing a model or hypothesis is that iReport is unique to CNN.
- 10. Future Research Study how other news organizations decide to use content from the web i.e. YouTube or blogs. Examine Brun’s Gatewatching hypothesis. Examine how managerial decisions play into the use of citizen gathered news. Study iReport community members to understand if the community reporters are becoming credible news gatherers.
- 11. Thank You Amani Channel Candidate for M.A. Mass Communications, University of South Florida amani.channel(@)gmail.com (404) 213-2121