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Greek journalists in the digital era: innovators or laggards? Anna Panagiotarea & Dimitra...
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Greek journalists in the digital era: innovators or laggards?
Greek journalists in the digital era: innovators or laggards? Anna Panagiotarea & Dimitra DimitrakopoulouAnna Panagiotarea & Dimitra Dimitrakopoulou
IntroductionIntroduction
Scientific framework: the impact of the Internet on journalism in the digital era
This paper examines:the use and the level of adoption of
the Internet by Greek journaliststheir attitudes as far as this new
technology is concerned its impact on their daily working
practices Our research is theoretically based
on the model of innovation diffusion
Scientific framework: the impact of the Internet on journalism in the digital era
This paper examines:the use and the level of adoption of
the Internet by Greek journaliststheir attitudes as far as this new
technology is concerned its impact on their daily working
practices Our research is theoretically based
on the model of innovation diffusion
Diffusion of the Internet (I)Diffusion of the Internet (I)
Diffusion is defined as the process by which an innovation is
communicated through certain channels (interpersonal channels & mass media) among the members of a social system
That requires time in any social system
through which an innovation is accepted or rejected in a given social system
(Rogers, 1995)
Diffusion is defined as the process by which an innovation is
communicated through certain channels (interpersonal channels & mass media) among the members of a social system
That requires time in any social system
through which an innovation is accepted or rejected in a given social system
(Rogers, 1995)
Diffusion of the Internet (II)
Diffusion of the Internet (II)
Is a process that goes through five stages:knowledge about or exposure to an
innovationformation or attitude or persuasiondecision of adoption or rejectionimplementation confirmation-reinforcement
Is a process that goes through five stages:knowledge about or exposure to an
innovationformation or attitude or persuasiondecision of adoption or rejectionimplementation confirmation-reinforcement
Diffusion of the Internet (III)
Diffusion of the Internet (III)
the decision to adopt or reject an innovation depends on a variety of factors:adopter-related personality traitssocioeconomic influencesinterpersonal channels and media
useperceived attributes of an innovation
the decision to adopt or reject an innovation depends on a variety of factors:adopter-related personality traitssocioeconomic influencesinterpersonal channels and media
useperceived attributes of an innovation
Diffusion of the Internet (IV)
Diffusion of the Internet (IV)
The characteristics of innovations that influence the user’s attitudes are: relative advantage compatibilitycomplexity observabilitytrialability
The characteristics of innovations that influence the user’s attitudes are: relative advantage compatibilitycomplexity observabilitytrialability
Empirical researchMethodology
Empirical researchMethodology
Method: Self-administered structured questionnaire
Sample: Journalists working in local and national media (251: 93% respond rate)
10 national daily newspapers and two local daily newspapers, seven television stations and four radio stations
The majority of journalists works in several media, so a clear distinction between press and broadcast journalists was not possible.
Therefore we studied our sample as ‘journalists’ in general, applying other distinction criteria, such as age, gender, education
Method: Self-administered structured questionnaire
Sample: Journalists working in local and national media (251: 93% respond rate)
10 national daily newspapers and two local daily newspapers, seven television stations and four radio stations
The majority of journalists works in several media, so a clear distinction between press and broadcast journalists was not possible.
Therefore we studied our sample as ‘journalists’ in general, applying other distinction criteria, such as age, gender, education
Sample description (I)Sample description (I)
48,0%52,0%
Gender Women
Men
Gender
48,0%52,0%
Gender Women
Men
Gender
Sample description (II)Sample description (II)
5,67%
18,62%23,48%
45,75%
6,48%
Per
cent
50
40
30
20
10
Age
> 5646-5536-4526-35
0
< 25
5,67%
18,62%23,48%
45,75%
6,48%
Per
cent
50
40
30
20
10
Age
> 5646-5536-4526-35
0
< 25
Sample description (III)Sample description (III)
MasterUniversityAΤΕΙLyceum
Education
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
15,32%
52,02%
20,97%
11,69%
MasterUniversityAΤΕΙLyceum
Education
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
15,32%
52,02%
20,97%
11,69%
Results (Internet use)Results (Internet use)
Internet penetration among Greek journalists reaches almost the half of this particular professional category
Most popular uses: search for news (69%) gathering information to write an article
(50,6%) sending emails (46%)
Least popular uses: 83,5% have never joined a forum 90,3% have never entered a chat room
Internet penetration among Greek journalists reaches almost the half of this particular professional category
Most popular uses: search for news (69%) gathering information to write an article
(50,6%) sending emails (46%)
Least popular uses: 83,5% have never joined a forum 90,3% have never entered a chat room
Use of the Internet as research medium
Use of the Internet as research medium
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
ResearchMedium
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
40,24%
26,29%
10,76%
3,98%
11,55%
7,17%
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
ResearchMedium
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
40,24%
26,29%
10,76%
3,98%
11,55%
7,17%
Use of the Internet as information medium
Use of the Internet as information medium
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
InfoMedium
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
44,22%
24,3%
9,56%
2,79%1,2%
17,93%
InfoMedium
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
InfoMedium
50
40
30
20
10
0
Per
cent
44,22%
24,3%
9,56%
2,79%1,2%
17,93%
InfoMedium
Use of the Internet as communication mediumUse of the Internet as
communication medium
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
CommMedium
25
20
15
10
5
0
Per
cent
22,31%23,51%
13,94%
9,56%
23,51%
7,17%
VLargeLargeMediumLittleVLittleNot at all
CommMedium
25
20
15
10
5
0
Per
cent
22,31%23,51%
13,94%
9,56%
23,51%
7,17%
Results (email use)Results (email use)
This laggardness in exploiting the Internet as a communication medium is evident in the next set of answers
Uses of email: ask information for an article: 16,5% communicate with colleagues: 24,3% communicate with their friends/relatives:
13,3% 74,5% never arrange a professional
meeting via email 67,2% have never communicated with the
public
This laggardness in exploiting the Internet as a communication medium is evident in the next set of answers
Uses of email: ask information for an article: 16,5% communicate with colleagues: 24,3% communicate with their friends/relatives:
13,3% 74,5% never arrange a professional
meeting via email 67,2% have never communicated with the
public
Perceived usefulnessPerceived usefulness
Although the penetration of the new technologies is quite modest in a professional group that we expected that they would make extended use of them, an overwhelming majority (98,4%) believe that the Internet makes their work easier
Although the penetration of the new technologies is quite modest in a professional group that we expected that they would make extended use of them, an overwhelming majority (98,4%) believe that the Internet makes their work easier
Reasons for not using the Internet
Reasons for not using the Internet
22% prefer traditional ways of communicating and researching
21% blame the management/ownership of reluctance to lead towards adoption or invest in new technologies
17% have no training 16% find no use in entering the Internet 14% find it too complex 10% do not have the time to learn how
to use it or actually use it
22% prefer traditional ways of communicating and researching
21% blame the management/ownership of reluctance to lead towards adoption or invest in new technologies
17% have no training 16% find no use in entering the Internet 14% find it too complex 10% do not have the time to learn how
to use it or actually use it
Perceived future role of journalist
Perceived future role of journalist
The answers are concentrated around two different poles: 41,1% believe that journalists should
become providers of specialized information
34% believe that journalists can survive only as critical analysts
While 20,7% adopt a more neutralized attitude and believe in the future of journalists as neutral information brokers
The answers are concentrated around two different poles: 41,1% believe that journalists should
become providers of specialized information
34% believe that journalists can survive only as critical analysts
While 20,7% adopt a more neutralized attitude and believe in the future of journalists as neutral information brokers
Factors affecting Internet use
Factors affecting Internet use
We correlate our results with the age, the gender and the education level of the respondents
Our hypothesis is that there is a strong relation between the use of technology and the age, the gender and the education of the journalists
We correlate our results with the age, the gender and the education level of the respondents
Our hypothesis is that there is a strong relation between the use of technology and the age, the gender and the education of the journalists
AgeAge
Age plays a significant role in the use and the adoption of the Internet
The differences among the various age groups are significant and indicative for the generation gap regarding new technologies
The majority of the respondents who use the Internet everyday to perform various actions are under 45 years old
The respective percentage drops significantly at the age of over 45 years old
Age plays a significant role in the use and the adoption of the Internet
The differences among the various age groups are significant and indicative for the generation gap regarding new technologies
The majority of the respondents who use the Internet everyday to perform various actions are under 45 years old
The respective percentage drops significantly at the age of over 45 years old
GenderGender
Though expected that gender would play a significant role in the use of technology, our research shows that there are not significant differences between male and female journalists
It seems that the Internet and the email are important tools for the journalistic work and thus are integrated into the everyday working life of journalists irrespective from their gender
The differences might not be large, but the superiority of men (abut 10%) in the use of technology is apparent in our data
Though expected that gender would play a significant role in the use of technology, our research shows that there are not significant differences between male and female journalists
It seems that the Internet and the email are important tools for the journalistic work and thus are integrated into the everyday working life of journalists irrespective from their gender
The differences might not be large, but the superiority of men (abut 10%) in the use of technology is apparent in our data
Education levelEducation level
Our correlation tests show that there is significant statistical difference in the case of Internet use and education level
Heavy users of the Internet are University graduates and graduates from the Technological Institutes (ATEI)
No significant differences are noted regarding the use of email
Our correlation tests show that there is significant statistical difference in the case of Internet use and education level
Heavy users of the Internet are University graduates and graduates from the Technological Institutes (ATEI)
No significant differences are noted regarding the use of email
Major remarks (I)Major remarks (I)
Our study reveals that Greek journalists do not belong to the innovators in adopting new technologies, as Internet penetration in this professional category is a little above 50%
Although they accept and demonstrate their perceived usefulness of new technologies, there is evidence that there is a level of resistance to adoption
As our results have shown, this resistance is ought to factors such as the age, the gender and the education level of the respondents
Our study reveals that Greek journalists do not belong to the innovators in adopting new technologies, as Internet penetration in this professional category is a little above 50%
Although they accept and demonstrate their perceived usefulness of new technologies, there is evidence that there is a level of resistance to adoption
As our results have shown, this resistance is ought to factors such as the age, the gender and the education level of the respondents
Major remarks (II)Major remarks (II)
Our data demonstrate that age and education play a pivotal role in the level of new technologies adoption, while gender affects the use in a secondary fashion
Dominant profile of a Greek journalist: under 45 years old, male and University graduate
We could characterize this group as the innovators of professional journalists, while the rest of them are the laggards or the late adopters
Our data demonstrate that age and education play a pivotal role in the level of new technologies adoption, while gender affects the use in a secondary fashion
Dominant profile of a Greek journalist: under 45 years old, male and University graduate
We could characterize this group as the innovators of professional journalists, while the rest of them are the laggards or the late adopters
Issues for consideration (I)Issues for consideration (I)
The reluctant media owners for investments in new technologies, the limited training of journalists in new technologies and time constraints are a burden for journalists that hinders them to enter the digital era.
We should also highlight the responsibility of the state regarding the embracement and the promotion of the Internet. The state investments in new technologies are extremely limited, which is obvious in the low penetration rates in Greece (19,5%).
There is also an underlying fear that those journalists who will not be able to keep pace with the new technological developments will be left out of the profession.
The reluctant media owners for investments in new technologies, the limited training of journalists in new technologies and time constraints are a burden for journalists that hinders them to enter the digital era.
We should also highlight the responsibility of the state regarding the embracement and the promotion of the Internet. The state investments in new technologies are extremely limited, which is obvious in the low penetration rates in Greece (19,5%).
There is also an underlying fear that those journalists who will not be able to keep pace with the new technological developments will be left out of the profession.
Issues for consideration (II)
Issues for consideration (II)
Last but not least, another highly important issue is the way that journalists exploit and incorporate into their work the various information that they gather on the Internet. The level of reliability and accuracy remains an open question on the Internet where inaccurate information and possible propaganda channels thrive uncontrolled.
A recent example is the weblog of Margot Wallström, who is blogging weekly in an attempt to make the topic of Europe as familiar as the weather or taxes. Her attempt has already provoked withering criticism among journalists who claim that the Commissioner’s intent is to create a propaganda-style broadcasting arm.
Last but not least, another highly important issue is the way that journalists exploit and incorporate into their work the various information that they gather on the Internet. The level of reliability and accuracy remains an open question on the Internet where inaccurate information and possible propaganda channels thrive uncontrolled.
A recent example is the weblog of Margot Wallström, who is blogging weekly in an attempt to make the topic of Europe as familiar as the weather or taxes. Her attempt has already provoked withering criticism among journalists who claim that the Commissioner’s intent is to create a propaganda-style broadcasting arm.
Thank you for your attention!
Thank you for your attention!