This research sets out to find workable methods for enhancing dialogue between the actors of journalism and those of social media, what may be the future job descriptions of media professionals in this respect, and how will the audience relationship of journalism change and how it should developed. Research material for the development perspectives will be gathered in Finland and the UK. In order to identify new, emerging practices the focus is on the “early adapters” in newsrooms.
The research will investigate how the early adapters in newsrooms use social media and what are the roles that journalists assume in different arenas of social media. This will give information on how a journalist can construct online identity as part of professional activity. In order to identify workable models, the journalists’ practices will be assessed by online communities and online opinion leaders, i.e. that target group which in the end defines how well journalists succeed in social media.
Contact person:
Research director, docent Ari Heinonen
Tampere Research Centre for Journalism, Media and Communication (COMET)
University of Tampere
Researchers:
Eliisa Vainikka, Mikko Hautakangas, Ari Heinonen and Elina Noppari
The research will be carried out in 2012.