The role of technology in journalism

The issue of gun control in America has split the nation into two camps: those
supporting stricter gun control, and those against it. The occurrence of gun crimes
and mass shootings in the nation have reignited this debate time and again. Yet, it
seems that little has been done to date. In fact, the government has chosen to
restrict federal funding for research on gun violence (Beckett, April 2014). In view
of this social injustice, independent non-profit newsroom Pro Publica started a
series on guns. This paper will examine the limitations of conventional journalism
methods, as well as how Pro Publica reflects the way technology can help
journalists present a clearer picture of the truth to their readers.
Pro Publica is an independent non-profit news room that produces investigative
journalism in the public interest, focusing on stories that shine a light on
exploitation of the weak by the strong, and on the failures of those with power to
vindicate the trust placed in them (Pro Publica, 2014). The site is very different
from traditional news agencies, as technology is heavily integrated into Pro
Publica, with the use of interactive infographics to illustrate data (Sagara, 2014)

Conventional journalism fails to include the context of the issue covered, leaving
readers with a partial truth.The failure of conventional journalism to include the
context leaves readers with a partial truth. Conventional stories typically cover
events that have occurred or will occur within 24 hours, focusing on the facts, the
who-what-when-where-how of the issue while neglecting the question of why
(Fink and Schudson 2013). However there is more to these events than just the
facts (Nakkeeran, 2010). Facts never speak for themselves (Berger, 1966) and
readers need to know why and how information is presented to them as it is. This
is especially true in crime and disaster writing, where it is important for readers to
understand the circumstances under which the crime was committed, providing
readers with context that makes up part of the truth (Bennett, Gressett et al.
1985).
Moreover, a lack of context also renders reported facts more susceptible to
misinterpretation. A study by Singer (1990), found that a majority of reported
scientific results are perceived to be sensational despite being technically accurate
as they were published in isolation of context such as research methodology, past
research and discussion. In crime and disaster writing, the issue of
misinterpretation is exacerbated by the scarcity of facts (Krakauer, 1996).
As written by Washington Post Columnist Eugene Robinson, in journalism there are
[s]o many stories, so little time (washingtonpost.com, March 6, 2007). There
is generally more emphasis on efficiency than depth in journalism (Barnhurst,
2011) and journalists are in a constant struggle to put out their stories in the
shortest amount of time (Goldstein, 2007). Yet, traditional journalists tend to see
themselves at the gatekeepers to the truth and are inhibited about correcting and
updating their stories (Broder, 1987). This, coupled with the lack of context, leads

The role of technology in journalism

to poor truth-telling and points to a need for new journalistic methods to remedy
these issues.

In light of the shortcomings highlighted above, there is a need for a

change in journalism towards a system where there is more audience
participation,as the truth emerges from shared, collective knowledge
rather than resting upon the decisions of a few individuals (Singer, 2005).
This change is facilitated by technological developments, namely the rise
of the Internet. Traditionally, readers have been reliant on the rigorous
scrutiny of the journalistic process to report the truth (Reese 1990). They
were dependent on journalists ability to be honest, unbiased and
accurate. Increasingly unsatisfied with such an arrangement (Singer,
2005), members of the audience have started to contribute and publish
their own content. The Internet has allowed citizens to do so by acting as
a mass medium that allows its users to overcome their traditional role as
mere recipients, and to become active participants in gathering,
producing, and disseminating news (Donsbach & Traugott, 2008). This
movement towards citizen journalism has been facilitated by user-friendly,
low cost online content management tools like blogger.com (Thurman,
2008). The incorporation of new media into journalism has closed the
communication loop between news agencies and their readers, allowing
readers to actively construct the content they wish to receive or diffuse
(Yana Breindl 2008).
However, the effectiveness of audience participation in enhancing the truth-telling
process has not been agreed upon. Tony Floyde, managing editor of the
Henderson Daily News, mentioned that there is slander and personal anger or
business, but not news in the user generated content he received (Lewis &
Kaufhold, 2010). A study by Neuberger and Neurnbergk (2010) has also stated that
such input does not ease journalistic investigation in general, while another
study by Thurman and Hermida (2008) has even suggested that it hampers
journalists ability to effectively filter out the truth.

On the other hand, other online media observers like Lasica (2003) have pointed
out that citizen journalism and professional journalism complement each other.
In a study of audience participation on online publications, Noci et al. (2012) found
that audience participation can increase the audiences trust in the media, and
provide journalists with a broader base of sources. Looking at the ProPublica gun
series, we see that there can be fruitful discussion by the general public. Rather
than simply making angry comments or merely agreeing with the articles, some
readers have criticised the information provided, pointing out the shortcomings

The role of technology in journalism

and airing their opinions. In an article titled By the Numbers: Comparing Spending
by Gun Rights and Gun Control Interest Groups, (Beckett, 2014) there is a lengthy
discussion on the issue by both proponents and opponents of the American gun
laws. This provides an insight into the opinions of the public, which would
otherwise have not been recorded by conventional journalism. The audience
opinions can also provide some context for the stories. This can help fill in the
gaps left by conventional journalists.
The Internet has also granted journalists the ability to present information in the
form of interactive infographics, which enhances communication. Interactive
infographics, such as that in the Pro Publica gun series post entitled Where Do the
Guns Traced in Your State Come From?, allows journalists to present data in a
manner that enables a consumer of that information to construct meaningful
knowledge (Nichani, Maish & Venkat, 2003). In this case, the use of the graphic
allows readers to find out more about where the guns in their state, or any state of
interest, are imported from and exported to. This may help readers make a
connection between their local gun laws and actual statistics on the sources of and
eventual destination of guns in their state.
These interactive graphics can also help to enhance reader interest, as they
provide customization options for readers, allowing them to tailor the information
they receive to their interest (Chung, 2008). This can help better engage audience
as it ensures the information will suit their interests. In the post entitled Where
Do the Guns Traced in Your State Come From?(Sagara, 2014), the interactive
graphic allows readers to selectively receive information on the states that they
are interested in without having to go through every single state. Moreover,
graphics, being aesthetically pleasing, also help to capture the interest of readers.
Hughes explains that (interview, 27 July 2012), if it is beautiful you will look at
it, if you dont get instant satisfaction then you will never get to the second
layer: what is this showing? This further helps to attract readers and engage
them journalism. That being said, the use of interactive graphics has seen a
limited scale of adoption by news sites that may feel not all stories are suited for
these graphics and that it is resource-intensive and may not be worthwhile (Dick,
2014).

Traditionally, conventional journalism accounts for more than 80 percent of stories

as seen on news sources like the New York Times or the Washington Post. However,
as outlined above, conventional stories have failed to provide context (Fink and
Schudson 2013), addressing only the facts, but not explaining why, which is
crucial, as facts cannot speak for themselves (Berger and Luckmann 1966). To
remedy this, technology has stepped in, allowing readers to publish their own
content (Donsbach & Traugott, 2008), thereby plugging some gaps in current
journalism. The benefits of citizen journalism and audience participation,

The role of technology in journalism

however, remains contentious, with some who even feel that it is a hindrance to
the journalistic process (Thurman & Hermida, 2008). Technology has also helped to
enhance the presentation of information through the use of interactive
infographics, aiding journalists in better presenting data and adding interest to
otherwise unexciting data (Dick, 2014). Despite this, many newsrooms have been
found to be slow on the incorporation of technology into their articles
(Boczkowski, 2004), as can be seen in The Guardian, which undertakes a good
deal of user research, however little of it is presented directly to the Interactives
team (Dick, 2014). This underscores the need for newsrooms to work towards
greater incorporation of technology into reporting to as to reap the benefits that it
can provide in terms of enhancing the journalistic process. (this conclusion seems a
bit abrupt make it sound more like a closure?)