Newsroom 3.1: An editorial system for newspapers to thrive in the digital age?

Broster, Paul

Abstract

This paper provides a case study examining the introduction and development of a newsroom model (Newsroom 3.1), established at the Manchester Evening News in September 2014. It aims to establish the key differences between the previous model, aligned primarily over many years to the production of a printed newspaper, to the new model, designed primarily to serve and prioritise digital output through the newspaper’s website and social media channels. Furthermore, it aims to examine the impact of the newsroom on the editorial process, journalistic practice and web audience figures from the perspective of those on the inside; the Manchester Evening News journalists who provide editorial material – including text, photographs, videos and infographic data – on a daily basis. It also questions how the model may evolve, given the pace of change in the dissemination of media content. Findings are based on newsroom observations and interviews with practitioners at the newspaper, set in context of literature focused on the development of newsrooms within newspaper groups. The guiding research questions are as follows: What have been the key changes to the newsroom model and what was the rationale for change? What, from the perspective of practitioners, has been the impact of the new model on the editorial process and journalistic practice? What has the impact been on web audience figures? How could the newsroom evolve given evaluation of its first year of operation and the changing media landscape?

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Challenging Media Landscapes
• Start Date: Nov 16, 2015
• End Date: Nov 17, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 16, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jan 6, 2024
• Keywords: newspapers, newsrooms, editorial system, data