Networked Journalism(slides based on Charlie Beckett’s SuperMedia)

J 349T Writing for Online PublicationInstructor: Seth C. Lewis

seth.lewis@mail.utexas.edu

What is networked journalism?

Jeff Jarvis’ definition

“Networked journalism takes into account the collaborative nature of journalism now: professionals and amateurs working together to get the real story, linking to each other across brands and old boundaries to share facts, questions, answers, ideas, perspectives. It recognizes the complex relationships that will make news. And it focuses on the process more than the product.”

New media … new style for news

How does it work?

Key considerations

• Can Networked Journalism “save” the media?

That is …

• Can it save its business?• Can it save its soul?

Tackling big problems

• Temporal nature of journalism• Distance and representation• Cycle of newsroom sensitivity• Role of the audience• Trust and authority

Business models and beyond

• Specialize– Exploiting niches in the Long Tail of user interest

• Socialize– Tap into existing communities; create new ones

• Localize– 360-degree omnisource for a geographic locale

“Local is people. Our job is not to deliver content or a product. Our job is to help them make connections with information and with each other.”

— Jeff Jarvis (Buzzmachine, 2007)

Looking ahead

• Networked vs. Citizen Journalism• Pro-am “hybrids” and how they work• Tapping into the wisdom of crowds• Increasing need for innovation