How is collective intelligence used in journalism?

Collective intelligence is the key by-product of networking that allows the journalism industry to flourish. Whether it is print, radio, television or internet journalism, collective intelligence is utilised by journalists to generate stories, find contacts and gain valuable information. The birth of the internet has fostered a plethora of communication networks, allowing collective intelligence to expand and thrive. Subsequently, one must look at social media networks such as social network services and blogs to gain a better understanding of how collective intelligence is harnessed by journalists.

By utilising collective intelligence as a result of social networking sites, journalists have been able to access more information than ever previously possible. Wilson identifies that the benefits of social network services, such as Facebook, extend beyond any platforms available to journalists in the past. She states that ‘[f]or journalists that [social networking] means contacting others for ideas and support on tough assignments or connecting with editors for advice and job opportunities’ (2008, p. 12). Additionally, she notes that “[a]fter all, Facebook, as many of the posts from the Journalists and Facebook wall say, is where the readers are. As in any form of journalism, if you don't understand where the audience is and what it's doing, you don't understand the audience” (Wilson, 2008, p. 14). From this, we can deduce that social network services have opened up methods of communication between journalists as well as allowing them to gain a better understanding of their readers (Wilson, 2008). In other words, collective intelligence, as a result of social media, has given journalists the benefit of writing better tailored stories to their target market.

In addition to Facebook fostering collective intelligence, Lowery examines Twitter as a medium which has allowed journalism to flourish (2009). In doing so, Lowery identifies the explosion of a building in Bozeman, Montana, in 2009 whereby he states there were no local reporters on scene to capture the incident. He highlights that citizen journalists were able to provide updates, photos and emergency information before any news organisation was at the scene (Lowery, 2009). Furthermore, he says that “NewWest.Net and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle [two news organisations in Bozeman] both quoted from the Twitter feed, and we directed readers to those people tweeting from the site of the explosion” (Lowery, 2009, p. 34). As a result, one can see how Twitter has been used as both a source of journalism and a source for journalists. While this may seem problematic for news organisations with respect to loosing readers, journalists have had to adapt to the new media and find ways to use it to their advantage. Hence, the collective intelligence which arises as a result of sites such as Facebook and Twitter has allowed journalism to operate on a previously unknown level.

Much like social network services, blogging has allowed journalism to operate on a new level through collective intelligence. Kelly points out that “the combination of text and hyperlinks (and, increasingly, hypermedia) make the blogosphere arguably as much like a single extended text as it acts like an online newsstand” (2008, p. 37). As with social network services such as Twitter, blogs act as a source of news which are subsequently used by journalists to generate new story ideas and angles. Furthermore, Kelly identifies the complementary nature of blogs with new websites through the concept of ‘blog clusters’. Specifically, Kelly found that that 10.9 per cent of hyperlinks provided in blogs led to ten mainstream news websites (Kelly, 2008). In addition to this, Stassen builds upon the synergy between blogging and new websites through highlighting the concept of j-blogs, which are “a cross between a column, a story and a journal” (n.d., p. 6). She states that “News24 [a news website] is closely linked to the blogging platform, Letterdash, but also has a section of the website dedicated to user-generated content” (Stassen, n.d., p. 7). Here the concept of transmedia storytelling arises, whereby user generated content helps build collective intelligence and allows journalism to take place. Moreover, the notion of synergy between blogs and news websites indicates a convergence culture whereby two platforms come together to create a richer experience.

Collective intelligence underpins journalism as an industry and acts as a vast resource for traditional journalists and citizen journalists. It is the burgeoning by-product of an increasing number of networks which has come about through social media such as social network services and blogs. Collective intelligence fosters relationships between journalists and readers and works in synergy with other media to create a richer experience. As technology develops, one can expect collective intelligence’s positive impact on journalism to grow exponentially in the future.

References

Kelly, J. (2008). Mapping the Blogosphere: Offering a Guide to Journalism's Future. Nieman Reports, 62(4), 37-39.

Lowery, C. (2009). An Explosion Prompts Rethinking of Twitter and Facebook. Nieman Reports, 63(3), 32-34.

Stassen, W. (n.d.) Your news in 140 characters: exploring the role of social media in journalism. Global Media Journal: African Edition, 4(1), 1-16.

Wilson, K. (2008). In Your Facebook. American Journalism Review, 30(1), 12-13.

How does transmedia storytelling apply to news journalism?

News journalism is an ever-evolving profession which has been bolstered by the transmedia storytelling experience. News outlets worldwide have had to rethink their presence across the media in recent years, which has brought about an influx of news content being re-purposed in the forms of film, literature, television, radio and the internet. In order to understand how transmedia storytelling applies to news journalism, one must examine the ways news stories have been re-purposed to create a richer experience for consumers.

Prior to the influx of journalistic transmedia storytelling that came with the birth of the internet, the Watergate scandal of the 1970’s proved paramount in strengthening the news journalism industry. Hailed as one of the greatest journalistic feats of all time, the coup, which revealed President Nixon’s Republican administration had been involved in illegal activities, was initially investigated by The Washington Post (The Post) (Feldstein, 2004). Besides the additional coverage from other newspapers around the world, The Post’s investigative reporters, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, went on to publish a book about the scandal called All the President’s Men in 1974. Similarly, the book was adapted into a movie by the same name in 1976 (Redford, 2010). As a result, one can see how transmedia storytelling allowed the story to be re-told and distributed through different means. Feldstein notes that “Watergate solidified the critical importance of investigative reporting…"All the President's Men" (the film) popularized and humanized investigative reporting…and provided the inspiration for thousands of young people to become investigative journalists who wanted to make a difference” (2004, p. 68). Hence, the power of transmedia storytelling led to the resignation of Nixon and a strengthened public image of news journalism.

More recently, the birth of the internet has enabled user-generated content (UGC) to flourish in news journalism, thus bolstering the industry. According to Harrison, “UGC journalists are now much more integrated into the newsgathering process, ensuring that UGC is being incorporated into newsroom operations” (n.d., p. 244). With this in mind, Harrison goes on to analyse how the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) uses UGC to their advantage (n.d.). He shows this through an example where British citizens flooded the BBC with content through blogs, emails and phone calls in regard to filling up their cars with contaminated petrol in 2007. Without the influx of UGC, he says the BBC wouldn’t have been able to go up against the petrol suppliers and provide a new angle on the story (Harrison, n.d.). With regard to the diffusion of innovations, one can see how UGC has diffused in society to enable new methods of creating news journalism.

Furthermore, UGC has reinforced news journalism through synergy. Thurman points out that The Guardian website in the United Kingdom contains “[n]ews message board to which readers contributed 647,798⁴ messages or ‘posts’ between 1999–2005.” (2008, p. 140). Similarly, he notes the South Korean newspaper website OhmyNews.com as having “more than 37,000 registered contributors, and is expanding into the English and Japanese language markets” (2008, p. 140). While news outlets are continually trying to find a way to efficiently commercialise such sites, Thurman found that in some instances, message boards were driving up to 50 per cent of news web sites' traffic (2008). Here one can see evidence of convergence, whereby once separate platforms, such as blogs and message boards, have been incorporated into news websites to create a richer experience.

In addition to convergence of media platforms, transmedia storytelling in news journalism fosters the concept of technoculture. In order to create a richer experience for the user, news web sites enable communication between readers and journalists through commenting and live chat feastures. In particular, Hane uses the example of hyperlocal news web sites, whereby journalists and citizen journalists write stories which can be localised down to specific neighbourhoods (2009). Similarly, Fanselow identifies community blogs as an indication of technoculture’s existence within news journalism, where content generated by news outlets allows local communities to debate local issues (2008). Hence the link between technoculture and transmedia storytelling becomes intertwined and subsequently strenghtens the news journalism experience.

 

Transmedia storytelling suggests that stories can be re-purposed for different media at different stages, thus reinforcing the news journalism industry. This is evidenced by the Watergate scandal, the use of UGC by news outlets, the convergence of UGC and news outlets and the emergence of technoculture through new media platforms. Consequently, one can expect future success of transmedia storytelling in news journalism.

References

Fanselow, J. (2008). Community blogging: The new wave of citizen journalism. National Civic Review, 97(4), 24.

Feldstein, M. (2004). Watergate Revisited. American Journalism Review, 26(4), 60-68.

Hane, P. J. (2009). Hyperlocal News, Ebook Readers, and Search Engines Top the News. Information Today, 26(10), 7.

Harrison, J. (n.d.) USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND GATEKEEPING AT THE BBC HUB. Journalism Studies, 11(2), 243-256.

Redford, R. (2010). Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19 Oct. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/707221/Robert-Redford>.

Thurman, N. (2008). Forums for citizen journalists? Adoption of user generated content initiatives by online news media. New Media & Society, 10(1), 139-157.