Journalism Endures: Twitter as a Case Study of Human-Software Interaction

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Information Systems Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study examines the effect of social media use by news agencies on their journalistic norms and practices: public service orientation, objectivity, and transparency or accountability. The data are 1,141 stories posted by six mainstream media organizations on Twitter over one constructed week in 2012. Findings show a tendency toward professional, hierarchical journalism; even blog posts have not led to innovative adoption of the horizontal communication patterns of social media. Traditional newsrooms rather co-opt the new technology to connect with digital media users. This study concludes that journalism as an institution normalizes rather than adjusts to the changing media landscape. It shows that information flows are in a state of transition and tension between human intervention and interaction and software-based systems.

Authors

• Will Mari, University of Washington

• Shin Haeng Lee, U of Washington