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What Does 'Good' JournalismMean?
PP 282
According to the Citizens: What Is Good Journalism?
C. Clerwall
1
, M. Karlsson
1
, L. Nord
2
1
Karlstad University, Media and communication studies, Karlstad, Sweden
2
Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden
The notion of what constitutes good journalism is frequently discussed amongst scholars as well as practitioners, and one could say that the discussion is as
old as the profession itself. However, previous research indicates that one party is commonly left out of the discussion – the citizens themselves. Research
on the notion of good journalism is usually based on preconceived ideas about good journalism such as the use of two or more sources, to have a neutral
description of events and keep one’s own opinion out of the news stories as this will help to inform people in their capacity as citizens in a democracy.
These indicators of“good”journalism have previously been evaluated by research in various ways by investigating content, studying journalists themselves
and, occasionally, asking the news consumers. However, in almost all previous research the point of departure has been from a predetermined and fixed
understanding of what journalism should be.Then, citizens, our focus, have been asked to tick the boxes of howwell journalism performs or what they think
about different dimensions of good journalism. In this study, the aim is to gain knowledge about the publics view on what constitutes good journalism, by
reversing the process and start from the perspective of (Swedish) citizens. Thus, the main research question is: RQ: What are Swedish citizens’ ideas about
good journalism? Using preconceived indicators has its merits when the aim is to study, for example, how news reporting meets the“standards”. However,
in order to study how citizens understand the concept of good journalism, a more open ended approach is needed. Consequently, the study facilitates focus
group interviews with open-ended questions with the aim to probe the participants’ views on what constitutes good journalism, both in general and to
themselves specifically. For the study, 13 focus group sessions were conducted, with in total 72 participants, recruited from a pool of respondents, represen‑
tative for the general Swedish population. The groups comprised high/low users of new media, and persons with high/low trust in news media. The focus
groups ran for approximately 90 minutes per session during which the respondents were asked open-ended questions about various aspects of journalism,
e.g.“what is good journalism to you?”.The preliminary findings first suggest that people does not hold easily articulated or elaborate ideas about what good
journalism is. Put differently, what constitutes good journalism is not something that has salience in their everyday life.When given the chance to elaborate
and discuss, however, the respondents think that, good journalism should be, in example, fair and balanced, objective, free from journalistic bias, true and
relevant, non-partial, and using a proper language. Hence, one conclusion from the study is that peoples view on good journalism is very much in tune with
the views held and advanced by the journalistic profession. The findings are discussed in relation to where citizens’views on journalism come from and to
what extent and with what rate they can change.
PP 283
Beyond the Dilemma Between Practice and Ideality: Investigation the Internet-Native News Outlets on Perception of Quality
Journalism
R. Zhao
1
1
Communication University of China, School of Journalism, Beijing, China
Everything we thought we once knew about journalism needs to be reconsidered in the digital age (Schudson, 2011, p. 205). When Internet was first used
in the twentieth century, it brought considerable transformation in many aspects of society, especially the way we acquire information and news. Contem‑
porarily, we have access to an unprecedented quantity of information, some of which is a new form such as UGC and SNS. However we find that the “soft
news” increased in importance the expense of “quality news” because “soft news” is more popular, cheaper and easier model to produce so much so that
media choose to emphasize more “soft”over “quality”news. Meanwhile, as a form of communication practice, journalism faces unprecedented challenges
and opportunities, as ICTs become part of news production and consumption. Thus, this research examines a case of new form of alternative quality news
outlets namely “internet-native news outlets”(Pure Players) in Europe. The outlets were set up by professional journalists those who attempt to practice
quality journalism, they felt, they could no longer do in traditional media. And the intension of those outlets advocates a corporation between professional
journalists, experts and citizens, who were called “braided journalism ” (Israel, 2009). The French website Rue89, Belgium website Apache News lab and
Spanish website El Diario were selected as the case study. Observation in the newsroom and in-depth interviews will be a primary data source throughout
the research process: for the exploration and the case study. During September 2012 to 2014, 35 in-depth interviews and 6 weeks observations of news‑
rooms were carried out. The research results shows two main points: The future of journalistic practice implemented by journalists, those who have the phi‑
losophy of professionalism and quality journalism, will be brought to the brightness even though it is bound to the sustainable business model. Although
internet brought information redundancy, the internet-native news outlet supplies an undoubted efficient platform for quality journalism(Ramrajsingh,
n.d.). Meanwhile, the independence of journalists and journalism protected by financial and excusive stand alone, that is the reason why the journalistic
website like Rue89, need sustainable business model to survive from commercial thrive. They can adopt strategies like make the benefits to donors more
gradual and tangible and use social media as a crucial promotion. The construction of inherent network （like SPILL）should be considered in order to op‑
timize the journalistic resource and experienced sharing. The syndicate like SPILL represent the basic requirement of those websites who claim the quality
journalism is their main purpose to setting the website. SPILL has published a “manifest” to provide ten solutions to the problem of independent media,
such like the government should decrease the direct aide to the independent media as well as increase the indirect aide, promote the investments on those
website sand renovate the profession of journalist. However there are many limitation of those opinions, they furnish the choices and present the predica‑
ment which will be the primary step to solve the problem.