Goldsmiths - University of London

New communication technologies present several challenges to the role of the journalist in society. The functions of inquiry, observation, research, editing, and writing have had to adapt to the vast array of information available on-line, digital video footage, wire photos, amateur pictures taken with camera-enabled cell phones or digital cameras, the blogosphere, as well as the speed of 24/7 cable news. The nature and processes of news have responded to this new technological mediascape in various ways. It is claimed that the speed of reporting and deadline pressure has increased dramatically, along with an expansion in the scope of available news sources and the temptation of digital dumping with the recycling of old material into new copy resulting in a move away from in-depth analysis. Claims are also made concerning the democratization of news with a new mode of civic journalism emerging as citizens seek to present their own accounts on-line accelerating a shift of power away from traditional voices of authority in journalism and politics.

This project explores the ways in which technological, economic and social change is reconfiguring news journalism and shaping the dynamics of the public sphere and public culture. At its heart is a quest to imagine the news of the future. Finding the answers to these questions is one of the most urgent challenges we face in defining the public interest in the information age.

Research Team:

Professor James Curran, Project leader

Dr Natalie Fenton

Professor Nick Couldry

Dr. Des Freedman

Peter Lee-Wright

Angela Phillips

Dr Tamara Witschge

Joanna Redden