EMBRACING NETWORKED JOURNALISM BETWEENSHALLOWNESS AND DEPTH

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that today’s news media are changing radically. New forms of what is coming to
be known as ‘networked journalism’ are increasingly visible. This new form of networked journalism based
on new media is changing the core of news production and consumption, challenging the business models of
the past and the efforts of traditional journalism organizations to control the news. In today's interactive
digital information environment, journalists lose the power to define what makes and shapes the news.
Media outlets now maneuver through a space characterised by continuous information flows, and share
communication paths with new information providers in an online, always-on environment. This article
sketches this dynamic sphere and introduces the paradigm of 'network journalism'. Structured around
digital networks, the sphere of network journalism unravels evolving patterns of information production.
The task for journalistic organisations now is to figure out how to include the many traditional and
alternative information nodes in their everyday work. The loss of control over a formerly strictly regulated
information-exchange sphere is viewed here as an opportunity for journalism to review its practices.
However, as journalists take on new roles and more voices are heard, there is a growing need to understand
the implications of the new forms of boundary crossing that are being encouraged by this new form of
journalism. Emerging forms of journalism may provide a foundation for public dialogue that enables stories
about distant others to be told and better understood. The consequence may be that there will be new
opportunities for enhanced sharing of viewpoints. Although convergent media platforms create
opportunities for new exchanges, there are reasons to question whether the potential will be met?