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Social Sciences
Special Issues
Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges
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Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 13370

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dolors Palau-Sampio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultat de Filologia, Traducció i Comunicació, Universitat de València, Valencia 32, 46020 Valencia, Spain
Interests: digital journalism; political communication; quality and narrative journalism; ethics
Prof. Dr. Pilar Sánchez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Interests: digital journalism; multimedia narrative; artificial intelligence; journalism education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Digital journalism has experienced a magnificent growth in the last three decades and an exponential evolution, as evidenced by a comparison between digital native media and legacy media. The 30th anniversary of the first online media, which takes place in 2024, marks a milestone to assess the current issues and challenges faced by contemporary journalism. This Special Issue seeks to collect research concerning the definition and characterization of the field to the last AI developments assisting journalists and the ethics involved. The different transformations of digital journalism highlight the relevance of the technological dimension, from the production and distribution of content to the continuous updating of professional skills. These issues should not be divorced from the main functions of journalism, for e.g., the expanded selection of content, the renewal of funding and business models, as well as new relationships with empowered and hyper-selective audiences. In this sense, this Special Issue encourages research on high-quality digital journalistic content—investigative journalism, narrative journalism, multimedia reporting, collaborative journalism—and the challenging conditions of production. We seek to receive innovative approaches relying on a wide range of social science-based methodologies. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: 

  • Definition of contemporary digital journalism;
  • Challenges in digital journalism production and content distribution;
  • Innovation in connecting with diverse audiences and communities;
  • Funding digital journalism;
  • Application of AI and ethical issues;
  • Quality digital journalistic storytelling and modalities;
  • Profiles, skills and training of digital journalists.

Dr. Dolors Palau-Sampio
Prof. Dr. Pilar Sánchez-García
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • digital journalism
  • professional skills
  • AI
  • ethics
  • innovation
  • funding & business models
  • quality journalism
  • audiences

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1507 KiB  
Article
An Alien in the Newsroom: AI Anxiety in European and American Newspapers
by Pablo Sanguinetti and Bella Palomo
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(11), 608; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13110608 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 936
Abstract
The media portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) directly impacts how audiences conceptualize this technology and, therefore, its use, development, and regulation. This study aims to measure a key aspect of this problem: the feeling of AI anxiety conveyed by news outlets that represent [...] Read more.
The media portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) directly impacts how audiences conceptualize this technology and, therefore, its use, development, and regulation. This study aims to measure a key aspect of this problem: the feeling of AI anxiety conveyed by news outlets that represent this technology as a sort of “alien” that is autonomous, opaque, and independent of humans. To do so, we build an AI anxiety index based on principal component analysis (PCA) and apply it to a corpus of headlines (n = 1682) about AI published before and after the launch of ChatGPT in ten newspapers: The New York Times, The Guardian, El País, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, San Francisco Chronicle, Manchester Evening News, La Voz de Galicia, Ouest France, and Münchner Merkur. The results show that ChatGPT not only boosted the number of AI headlines (× 5.16) but also reduced positive sentiments (−26.46%) and increased negatives (58.84%). The AI anxiety index also grew (10.59%), albeit driven by regional media (61.41%), while it fell in national media (−6.82%). Finally, the discussion of the variables that compose the index reveals the opportunities and challenges faced by national and regional media in avoiding the feeling of AI anxiety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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15 pages, 507 KiB  
Article
Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity for Journalism: Insights from the Brazilian and Portuguese Media
by João Canavilhas, Fabia Ioscote and Adriana Gonçalves
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(11), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13110590 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 898
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been emerging as a topic of significant interest, attracting the attention of the public and leading to an increase in research and on media coverage of this technology. This article examines how the Brazilian and Portuguese media represent AI [...] Read more.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been emerging as a topic of significant interest, attracting the attention of the public and leading to an increase in research and on media coverage of this technology. This article examines how the Brazilian and Portuguese media represent AI in journalism and the challenges it poses. Using digital methods, this study analysed 60 news articles published between June 2022 and June 2024. The data were collected through an anonymous search on Google News, and the content was analysed using sentiment analysis with the PTNews software, followed by a similarity analysis using the Iramuteq software. The results show a predominantly positive sentiment towards AI in journalism, with 91.8% of articles highlighting its benefits, such as increased efficiency and the automation of routine tasks. However, concerns about disinformation, ethical implications, and the potential erosion of journalistic credibility were less emphasised. The analysis also identified key themes, including AI’s dual role as both an enabler and a threat to journalism, the importance of human oversight, and the challenges of newsroom adaptation. The findings suggest that the Brazilian and Portuguese media generally present AI as an opportunity for journalism, often downplaying the associated risks and ethical challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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18 pages, 1183 KiB  
Article
Evolving Social Media Strategies in Local Journalism: Experiences from Argentine Patagonia
by Alejandro Rost, María Teresa Bernardi and Fabián Bergero
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090461 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 986
Abstract
Studies on journalistic work and production on social media typically focus on large media outlets in developed countries. In this article, we shift the lens to a peripheral area of a peripheral country: Argentine Patagonia. Our objective was to analyse journalistic production on [...] Read more.
Studies on journalistic work and production on social media typically focus on large media outlets in developed countries. In this article, we shift the lens to a peripheral area of a peripheral country: Argentine Patagonia. Our objective was to analyse journalistic production on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter in the eight most-followed local and regional news media outlets. We analysed the narratives, the extent to which they apply transmedia journalism, and how they have evolved compared to studies from 2021. We also conducted structured interviews with social media managers to gain insight into their professional practices. We conclude that, 15 years since the creation of the first profiles, promoting website content remains the primary goal of North Patagonian media networks. Since 2021, there have been more frequent updates but less native production, especially on Facebook and Twitter. Despite the shortage of staff and precarious working conditions, some news media outlets have been able to innovate on Instagram, introducing a variety of multimedia formats, a more conversational tone, diverse update rhythms, adapted content, and even specific content that is organised into sections. Information production for the platforms has been integrated into journalistic routines even when public interaction with the audience remains very limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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13 pages, 1586 KiB  
Article
Clickbait Contagion in International Quality Media: Tabloidisation and Information Gap to Attract Audiences
by Alba Diez-Gracia, Pilar Sánchez-García, Dolors Palau-Sampio and Iris Sánchez-Sobradillo
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(8), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13080430 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1349
Abstract
The competition to attract audiences has led to an increase in sensational or misleading headlines and content, with the aim of garnering user clicks in the news media. This dynamic alters the journalistic manner in which news is presented, and it does so [...] Read more.
The competition to attract audiences has led to an increase in sensational or misleading headlines and content, with the aim of garnering user clicks in the news media. This dynamic alters the journalistic manner in which news is presented, and it does so by reducing informative quality and eroding the trust of the audience. This study examines the proliferation of clickbait strategies on the front pages of reputable international ‘serious’ press and how it manifests in readers’ consumption and sharing habits. We carried out a comparative content analysis of digital news articles from four international media sources (N = 1680): The Guardian (UK), The New York Times (USA), El País (Spain) and Público (Portugal). Our results confirm the existence of clickbait (N = 516) on the front pages, the most read content and the articles most shared on social media. Most clickbait titles resort to headline strategies of containing incomplete information that affect both hard and soft news topics. This particular finding highlights the inclusion of clickbait in the agenda of ‘serious’ journalism, despite the negative implications on information quality and trust. Associated with irrelevant content, this ‘hook’ captures the attention of the online audience more than the social media audience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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13 pages, 533 KiB  
Article
A Shift Amid the Transition: Towards Smarter, More Resilient Digital Journalism in the Age of AI and Disinformation
by Tania Forja-Pena, Berta García-Orosa and Xosé López-García
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(8), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13080403 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 2169
Abstract
Digital journalism is facing a growing number of challenges as the wave of digital transformation enters a new phase. The changes, both slow and sudden, are making it increasingly necessary for there to be a shift amid the transition. The surge of artificial [...] Read more.
Digital journalism is facing a growing number of challenges as the wave of digital transformation enters a new phase. The changes, both slow and sudden, are making it increasingly necessary for there to be a shift amid the transition. The surge of artificial intelligence (AI) in the journalistic world has ushered in what appears to be a new phase for digitalisation and journalism’s role as a producer of factual information and knowledge in society. Current debates suggest that we are at a critical time to reinvent journalism for the new wave of digital transformation. In this stage, which recently began and which some are calling the Fourth Industrial Revolution, both professionals and academics point to the need to make journalism more resilient, so it can adapt to the changes without losing its basic essence, and more people-centred, helping to support individuals in the age of AI. This article analyses the challenges from the perspectives of both academics and professional journalists, based on their codes of ethics. The methodology used is a content analysis of 45 European ethical codes and the Delphi method, involving experts from the journalistic sector and academia. The results highlight that codes of ethics have not kept pace with these professionally and expert-led debates, as few mention new technologies such as artificial intelligence and they tend to focus more on disinformation and social engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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12 pages, 339 KiB  
Article
Mediatised Participation: Citizen Journalism and the Decline in User-Generated Content in Online News Media
by Simón Peña-Fernández, Ainara Larrondo-Ureta and Irati Agirreazkuenaga
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(5), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13050266 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 3682
Abstract
The second generation of web tools shook the journalist profession approximately two decades ago with the proactive incorporation of audiences into the media. Citizen journalism and user-generated content arose as an object of interest due to the democratising value of participation attributed to [...] Read more.
The second generation of web tools shook the journalist profession approximately two decades ago with the proactive incorporation of audiences into the media. Citizen journalism and user-generated content arose as an object of interest due to the democratising value of participation attributed to them, with empowered citizens who could emulate the professional and institutional practises of journalists. However, difficulties soon came to the surface, and audience participation in news media began to be limited. Within this context, this article conducts a critical review of studies on audience participation in news media based on a systematic literature review. The results indicate that, in general, audiences showed low interest in the creation of informative content and that their participation has grown increasingly problematic. In addition, journalists are reticent as they defend their professional role above all else, while company strategies have prioritised making participation profitable. For this reason, the idea of citizen journalism that offers user-created content through the media appears to be a thing of the past, with many characteristics that could define it as a failed innovation. Therefore, the text concludes that audience participation in the media could be defined as mediatised participation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)

Review

Jump to: Research

11 pages, 5179 KiB  
Review
Journalistic Images: Contemporary Challenges for Visual Research in Digital Journalism
by Eduardo Leite Vasconcelos and Suzana Oliveira Barbosa
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(9), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13090459 - 2 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1018
Abstract
This article aims to identify contemporary challenges in researching digital journalism images and propose potential outcomes for addressing these challenges. We argue that the analysis of contemporary journalistic photography requires a departure from traditional approaches used for analog images. Instead, it should be [...] Read more.
This article aims to identify contemporary challenges in researching digital journalism images and propose potential outcomes for addressing these challenges. We argue that the analysis of contemporary journalistic photography requires a departure from traditional approaches used for analog images. Instead, it should be viewed within the ever-changing digital ecosystem in which digital journalism circulates and the new forms of creating, sharing, and visualizing its content that arise from platform context and mobile consumption. We have divided these challenges into two categories: the first relates to topics associated with the studied object, and the second pertains to the research process itself. On the one hand, changes in the nature of the photographic medium, its transmission and profusion potentials, shifts in journalistic workflow and labor relations, evolving professional multimedia needs, audience participation, and new forms of consumption are some of the aspects that need to be considered. On the other hand, we also must deal with the ephemeral quality of digital objects and recognize that researching digital objects is inherently intertwined with understanding the digital ecosystem in which these objects exist. Finally, we identify the digital methods-oriented approach as a potential path to addressing these challenges, mainly because of its characteristics of following and adapting to the medium’s logic Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Digital Journalism: Issues and Challenges)
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