The execution of digital first editorial strategy in South Africa : the case of Netwerk24, Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad

Date
2020-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The influence of the adopted digital first strategy at the Afrikaans online news website Netwerk24 and its print partners, the traditional regional daily newspapers Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad, is examined and described in this study. The theories of news routines, news selection, gatekeeping and news values are used to guide this study in answering the research questions, which centers on the flow of news articles about the alleged racism event in Schweizer-Reneke Primary School in January 2019. The flow of news is described by analysing 53 individual articles published online and in the printed newspapers. The seven-day period in which the articles were collected, covers an alleged racism incident at the Schweizer-Reneke Primary School in 2019. This study does not focus on the event itself, however, the event is utilised to focus on the workflow at the selected publications during the covering of big news. During 10 interviews with news workers in different roles at the four publications, light was shed on the roles of news workers, their digital first strategy, desk reporters, the importance of audience clicks and news values, the use of technology and social media, gatekeeping in this environment, repurposing of content across the publications, as well as news gathering views. The study concludes that the publications face numerous constraints subsequent to the digital disruption – which in itself is not a novel development. However, the current state of these influential publications indicates their strategic cooperation in order to survive.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Afrikaanse aanlyn nuuswebwerf Netwerk24 en sy gedrukte vennote, die tradisionele streeksdagblaaie Beeld, Die Burger en Volksblad, het reeds ‘n strategie om digitaal eerste nuus te lewer, in werking gestel. Die invloed van dié strategie word in hierdie studie ondersoek en beskryf. Joernalistieke teorieë, naamlik nuusroetines, nuusseleksie, die hekwagtersrol en nuuswaardes, word ingespan om die navorsingsvrae, wat verband hou met die nuusvloei van kopie tydens die voorval van beweerde rassisme by die Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke in Januarie 2019, te beantwoord. Om die vloei van die nuus te beskryf, is altesaam 53 artikels wat aanlyn en in gedrukte publikasies gepubliseer is, vir die studie ontleed. Al die artikels is binne sewe dae nadat die Schweizer-rasseherrie begin het, in gedrukte media gepubliseer. Hierdie studie fokus nie op die nuusgebeure self nie, maar gebruik dit om die werksvloei by die betrokke publikasies af te baken. Die tien onderhoude wat met werknemers in verskeie rolle gevoer is, het lig gewerp op die verskeidenheid rolle van nuuswerkers, die digitaal eerste strategie, lessenaarverslaggewers, die belang van klieke en nuuswaardes, die gebruik van tegnologie en die sosiale media, die hekwagtersrol, die hergebruik van inhoud sowel as nuusinsameling. Hierdie studie merk op dat die publikasies deur verskeie beperkings weens die digitale ontwrigting in die gesig gestaar word. Hoewel die digitale ontwrigting nie ‘n nuwe ontwikkeling is nie, wys die huidige situasie van dié invloedryke publikasies op strategiese samewerking om te oorleef.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
South Africa -- Electronic newspapers, Journalism -- Editing, Journalism -- Authorship, Racism -- South Africa -- Press coverage, Electronic newspapers -- South Africa, UCTD
Citation