Regenerating Journalism: Exploring the "Alternativeness" and "Digital-ness" of Online-Native Media in Latin America

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Journalism Studies Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study maps the emerging digital media landscape of online-native news sites in Latin America, interrogating to what extent these sites challenge mainstream, traditional journalism. Specifically, researchers identified and analyzed the region’s online-native sites, exploring their influence and “alternativeness” – in terms of ownership, funding, content, degree of activism, and organizational goals – and their “digital-ness,” in terms of the sites’ inclusion of multimedia, interactive, and participatory digital features. In general, this quantitative and qualitative analysis of the media sites’ websites shows that the most influential online-native sites are attempting to renovate traditional, outdated modes of journalism, serving as alternatives to mainstream media and aiming to change society, even if the sites do not necessarily self-identify as “alternative” per se. Their emphasis on using innovative, digital techniques is important for re-conceptualizing not just the role of journalism in a digital era, but also journalism’s relationship to alternative media and activism.

Authors

• Summer Harlow, Florida State U

• Ramon Salaverria, University of Navarra