Spaces of the News
Project 1
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
Professor
Natalie Fenton,
Professor Nick Couldry
Dr. Des Freedman
Peter Lee-Wright
Angela Phillips
Dr Tamara Witschge
Joanna Redden
Project 1 latest news
- Spaces of the News Project, 13 July 2010
James Curran gave a paper on 'The Press and New Technology: Continuity,
Rebirth or Abyss? (1950-2010)' at The Historiographyof the UK Media
Conference at Kings College, London
- Spaces of the News Project, 9 July 2010
James Curran gave a paper on 'The impact of the internet on journalism' in the Axess Future of Journalism Conference in London
- May 2010
Read Des Freedman, Natalie Fenton and James Curran's submission to the BBC Trust in relation to the BBC Strategy Review consultation PDF
- March 2010
James Curran, Natalie Fenton and Angela Phillips spoke at a pre-election event at Westminster on 'Democracy Without Journalists- The Crisis in Local News'. Other speakers included: Jeremy Dear (General Secretary of the NUJ); Steve Hewlett (R4 The Media Show and Guardian columnist)and Professor Stephen Coleman (University of Leeds).
More information. -
February 2010
Natalie Fenton, Des Freedman, James Curran and Nick Couldry recently submitted a document to the DCMS outlining their views on the IFNC pilots. Read their submission
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February 2010
Natalie Fenton is presenting the Spaces of News research at Middlesex
University on 2 Feb. and Leicester University on 10 Feb.
Abstract Drowning or Waving? New Media, Journalism and Democracy