Abstract
Technology is an indispensable partner of TV news. The form and content of TV news are largely determined by the available technology of newsgathering, production and dissemination. In recent years, with the emergence of the Internet and digital communication technologies, there is a sea change in the TV journalistic practice. Based on an empirical study in Hong Kong, this paper puts this change under scrutiny and explores its social implications. New communications technology brings with its major benefits for TV news organizations, but also imposes great challenges on working practices and routines. Previous studies basically adopted a production perspective. They focus more on how the new technologies have changed the work flow of TV news production and alter the job of TV reporters. But this study makes an attempt to examine the topic from a social perspective. The study on the one hand examines in what ways the new communication technologies affect the efficiency and quality of TV news production. On the other hand, it investigates how these technologies affect TV journalists in carrying out their social tasks.
Theoretically, this study grounds itself on functionalism. Methodologically, it collects the data through survey and in-depth interviews. The study was carried out in April 2007. Questionnaires were sent to all five television news stations in Hong Kong and 103 TV journalists filled out the questionnaires. The return rate was 82.4%. In addition, 14 high-ranking news executives including news directors, senior editors, and assignment editors were interviewed. Findings of the study show that new technologies have greatly enhanced the efficiency of TV newsmaking in all four aspects: reporting and information collection, editing and production, news transmission, and archive storage. With the assistance of the new communication technologies, TV journalists can cover news any time and from any place. The space-time barriers have collapsed. However, consensus has not been reached by TV journalists about the improvement in content quality. Many respondents recognize an improvement in TV news content but some still worry about that efficiency has been gained at the expense of accuracy and in-depth reporting. Regarding the social roles of TV news, the introduction of new technology is viewed as a blessing more than a curse. New technologies are regarded as enabling TV journalists to do a better job in social surveillance and monitoring the government. As TV news becomes more immediate, more intimate and more public, the political environment is believed to be more transparent. Highly efficient TV news reporting can urge government officials to quicken their pace of responding to public demands and handling social crisis. Although journalists think that new technologies' contribution to their social policy interpretation and public education is less obvious, they still have positive views on these aspects.
Findings of the study indicate that organizational culture and organizational resource are major factors affecting the influence of new communication technology on TV newsmaking. As frontline journalists become more multitasking, they need better training and more support from the management.
Theoretically, this study grounds itself on functionalism. Methodologically, it collects the data through survey and in-depth interviews. The study was carried out in April 2007. Questionnaires were sent to all five television news stations in Hong Kong and 103 TV journalists filled out the questionnaires. The return rate was 82.4%. In addition, 14 high-ranking news executives including news directors, senior editors, and assignment editors were interviewed. Findings of the study show that new technologies have greatly enhanced the efficiency of TV newsmaking in all four aspects: reporting and information collection, editing and production, news transmission, and archive storage. With the assistance of the new communication technologies, TV journalists can cover news any time and from any place. The space-time barriers have collapsed. However, consensus has not been reached by TV journalists about the improvement in content quality. Many respondents recognize an improvement in TV news content but some still worry about that efficiency has been gained at the expense of accuracy and in-depth reporting. Regarding the social roles of TV news, the introduction of new technology is viewed as a blessing more than a curse. New technologies are regarded as enabling TV journalists to do a better job in social surveillance and monitoring the government. As TV news becomes more immediate, more intimate and more public, the political environment is believed to be more transparent. Highly efficient TV news reporting can urge government officials to quicken their pace of responding to public demands and handling social crisis. Although journalists think that new technologies' contribution to their social policy interpretation and public education is less obvious, they still have positive views on these aspects.
Findings of the study indicate that organizational culture and organizational resource are major factors affecting the influence of new communication technology on TV newsmaking. As frontline journalists become more multitasking, they need better training and more support from the management.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - Jul 2008 |
| Event | International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference, IAMCR 2008: Media and Global Divides - Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 20 Jul 2008 → 25 Jul 2008 https://iamcr.org/congress/stockholm-2008 (Link to conference website) |
Conference
| Conference | International Association for Media and Communication Research Conference, IAMCR 2008 |
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| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Stockholm |
| Period | 20/07/08 → 25/07/08 |
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