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Diversity of Journalisms. Proceedings of ECREA/CICOM Conference, Pamplona, 4-5 July 2011
Convergence at Dutch Regional Newspapers: An Explorative Study
van Kerkhoven, Marco*; Bakker, Piet**
*University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
**University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Regional news media are facing tough times, as they lose readers and advertisers
rapidly. In The Netherlands circulation went down from 2,7 million in 1990 to 1,8
million in 2010, household penetration declined from 47 percent to 25 percent, and
the number of editions went down from 35 to 18 in the same period. We have
interviewed managers and executives (2009 - 2010) from nine of the eighteen
regional newspapers in The Netherlands to analyze if and how they see convergence
(the transition to an integrated newsroom) as a significant option to regain readers
and advertisers. This study is part of an extensive research project on the question of
what the (long-term) consequences of convergence will be for the organizational
structure, the work procedures, journalistic quality, and business models of regional
news media. First results show that convergence is indeed embraced as a solution.
However, there are significant differences of the preferred strategy to approach the
new market for online news by an integrated newsroom. Management tends to
operate safely, experimenting with small projects, which are quite easily discontinued
sometimes; while executives on the work floor are willing to invest into the education
of employees and the technical convergence on a more structural basis. For the first
time it is determined how convergence strategically and operationally changes
regional media in The Netherlands.
Towards converging media structures?
Blöbaum, Bernd; Kanthack, Eva; Middendorf, Hannah
Department of Communication, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
While the term diversity, which today is often used to characterize the emerging
media landscape, is evident in spheres of journalism such as content or audiences,
the paper asks whether the same applies to the structure of media organisations.
Therefore, selected findings of a three-year research project on journalism in
Germany which analyzes the change of journalistic organisations, roles and programs
since 1990 will be presented as well as the research design.
To answer the research question 15 journalists working at leading mass media
newsrooms in Germany were observed for one week each. These observations were
followed by in-depth interviews. All types of media were covered: Print, broadcast and
online journalists described the structure of the editorial offices including the
processes of communication, decision making and coordination.
The findings reveal that new forms of organisation dominate German editorial
departments: 80 percent of the interviewees underlined that decisions concerning
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