UGC in the newsroom: How BBC journalists’ engagement with internet

activists has altered newsroom practices

Research Questions•How have journalists engaged with Syrian citizens

and activists in Syria throughout the conflict? –Has this relationship changed?– How has this relationship benefited the BBC?

•Have journalistic practices at the BBC changed as during this period?–Is there a change in newsroom roles?–Lessons learned?

Research Methods

• Qualitative semi structured interviews with BBC staff

• UGC Hub, BBC World News TV, BBC Arabic

• Participant observation – mainly at UGC Hub

Research context

• Looking at coverage of crisis by BBC World News Television

• Syria conflict - March 2011 to March 2014

• First six months – no journalists could legal enter Syria

• Forced to rely on those in the country

Working in the newsroom: My USP

Initial findings

• UGC and social media now key newsgathering tools

• Rapport with Syrian activists developed over time

• Roles have changed - ‘part detective, part librarian’ (Bruns 2011)

• Change in engagement = new roles and structures

Engaging with Syrian activists

• Key to understanding events in the country

• Became trusted sources of information and content

•Diaspora: Enlist contacts and verify footage for BBC

• Both bring up issues of balance, impartiality

Getting in touch

• Contact with UGC Hub – ‘verified’

• Sourcing voices: Twitter and Facebook

• Official groups and newsletters

• Skype™ to fuel conversations

Learning from the Arab Spring

•Footage to widest possible audience

• ‘Signposting’ content for ease of verification

• Skype™ used amid security concerns

• Safety of contributors – guidance on contact

• Copyright on eyewitness footage relaxed

• Rapport developed but still a duty of care

• VERIFICATION, VERIFICATION, VERIFICATION!

Considerations for journalists

Because mistakes do happen…

Staff checklist for UGC content

• Geo-referencing location against maps and existing images

• BBC Arabic and Monitoring analyse accents and language

• Examining weather reports and shadows against testimony

• 2014: Maintaining lists of previously verified material

Changes in roles and structures

•Rotas more flexible for continuity of coverage

•Appoint dedicated Syria producers – maintain rapport

• Embedding of BBC Arabic at UGC Hub from 2011

•BBC Monitoring: a go-to source for content

BBC Arabic attachment at UGC Hub

“That was a moment for UGC that proved the point of having someone from Arabic there It worked out very well on that day. Horrific story but great in terms of newsgathering.”

Conclusions?

•BBC journalists experienced a “steep learning curve”

•Change in policies towards activists and UGC

• Engagement and rapport still evolving

•Only gatekeepers of own news?

Thank youlisettejohnston@yahoo.com

@LisetteJohnston