Digital-native news media : Reach in 46 countries, top brands and user profiles in Spain

This is a result of the Diginativemedia research project, grant PID2021-122534OB-C22, funded by IN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the ERDF, "A way of making Europe".Digital-pure news publications have become competitive players in many countries, populating audience rankings in the context of a high-choice media environment. With the aim of gaining insight into the performance of digital-native news brands around the world and into how their audiences are similar or different to those of media with traditional roots in Spain, we draw on survey data for 2021 and 2022, respectively. First, we examine what proportion of online adults use any of the most popular digital-pure news brands in 24 mostly European countries and in 22 markets in America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and we highlight how the main digital-native brands rank among online news sources, based on their weekly audience reach. Then we compare the user profiles of the five most-used online-only news organizations in Spain, against the audiences of the top five legacy brands (N = 2028), looking at reader loyalty, gender, age, income and education levels, and political leaning. With this media-centric approach to audiences, we find that digital-native news media brands either lead (in 15 out of 46 countries) or occupy some of the top positions by weekly reach in most markets, with Nordic countries standing out as an exception. In Spain, audiences of the top digital-native brands check them slightly less frequently than the users of news sites with traditional roots. News sites in our study are slightly more popular among males, older people, and more affluent and formally educated users who can define their political stance. Nevertheless, the diversity of editorial approaches found among sites in an externally pluralistic news media market inevitably results in brands with user profiles that show exceptions to these trends.Les publicacions de notícies purament digitals han esdevingut actors competitius en molts països i ocupen llocs destacats en les classificacions d'audiència en el context d'un entorn mediàtic d'alta capacitat d'elecció. Amb l'objectiu d'obtenir informació sobre el rendiment de les marques de notícies digitals a tot el món i de saber si les seves audiències són similars o diferents a les dels mitjans amb arrels tradicionals a Espanya, ens basem en dades d'una enquesta de 2021 i 2022, respectivament. Primer, examinem quina proporció d'adults connectats a internet fa servir alguna de les marques de notícies purament digitals més populars en 24 països majoritàriament europeus i en 22 mercats d'Amèrica, Àfrica i la regió Àsia-Pacífic, i destaquem com es classifiquen les principals marques nadiues digitals en funció de l'audiència setmanal que aconsegueixin. Després comparem els perfils dels usuaris de les cinc organitzacions de notícies exclusivament digitals més utilitzades a Espanya, amb les audiències de les cinc principals marques tradicionals (N = 2028), i analitzem la lleialtat dels lectors, el gènere, l'edat, els nivells d'educació i ingressos, i la inclinació política. Amb aquest enfocament centrat en les audiències dels mitjans, trobem que les marques de mitjans de notícies nadius digitals són líders (en 15 de 46 països) o ocupen algunes de les primeres posicions per abast setmanal en la majoria dels mercats, amb els països nòrdics com a excepció. A Espanya, les audiències de les principals marques nadiues digitals les consulten amb una freqüència lleugerament menor que els usuaris de llocs de notícies amb arrels tradicionals. Els llocs de notícies en el nostre estudi són una mica més populars entre els homes, les persones grans i els usuaris més benestants i amb educació formal, capaços de definir la seva postura política. No obstant això, la diversitat d'enfocaments editorials que es troben entre els llocs, en un mercat de mitjans de notícies pluralista, inevitablement dona com a resultat marques amb perfils d'usuari que mostren excepcions a aquestes tendències.Las publicaciones de noticias puramente digitales se han convertido en actores competitivos en muchos países y ocupan puestos destacados en las clasificaciones de audiencia en el contexto de un entorno mediático de alta capacidad de elección. Con el objetivo de obtener información sobre el rendimiento de las marcas de noticias digitales en todo el mundo y de saber si sus audiencias son similares o diferentes a las de los medios con raíces tradicionales en España, nos basamos en datos de una encuesta de 2021 y 2022, respectivamente. Primero, examinamos qué proporción de adultos conectados a internet usa alguna de las marcas de noticias puramente digitales más populares en 24 países mayoritariamente europeos y en 22 mercados de América, África y la región Asia-Pacífico, y destacamos cómo se clasifican las principales marcas nativas digitales en función de la audiencia semanal que alcancen. Luego comparamos los perfiles de los usuarios de las cinco organizaciones de noticias exclusivamente digitales más utilizadas en España, con las audiencias de las cinco principales marcas tradicionales (N = 2028), y analizamos la lealtad de los lectores, el género, la edad, los niveles de educación e ingresos, y la inclinación política. Con este enfoque centrado en las audiencias de los medios, encontramos que las marcas de medios de noticias nativos digitales son líderes (en 15 de 46 países) u ocupan algunas de las primeras posiciones por alcance semanal en la mayoría de los mercados, con los países nórdicos como excepción. En España, las audiencias de las principales marcas nativas digitales las consultan con una frecuencia ligeramente menor que los usuarios de sitios de noticias con raíces tradicionales. Los sitios de noticias en nuestro estudio son un poco más populares entre los hombres, las personas mayores y los usuarios más pudientes y con educación formal, capaces de definir su postura política. Sin embargo, la diversidad de enfoques editoriales que se encuentran entre los sitios, en un mercado de medios de noticias pluralista, inevitablemente da como resultado marcas con perfiles de usuario que muestran excepciones a estas tendencias

Participation in Al Jazeera English: integrating witnesses and users to broaden the reach of the news

Eyewitness accounts, expert knowledge, photos, audio, video and data sent by the public give full meaning to interactivity. Al Jazeera English relies on the audience to broaden its news coverage, its programme schedule, and even its reach. This study delves into the technological, professional and editorial aspects of participation on the channel: submission platforms are described; fifty Twitter profiles of journalists are analyzed, as well as the form and function of 600 tweets, and inputs broadcast on The Stream and Listening Post are classified according to their format and origin.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Los testimonios, el conocimiento experto, el material gráfico y audiovisual y los datos aportados por el público dotan de pleno sentido a la interactividad. Al Jazeera English se apoya en la audiencia para ampliar su cobertura informativa, su programación, e incluso el alcance de su señal. Este estudio profundiza en los aspectos tecnológicos, profesionales y editoriales de la participación en el canal: se describen plataformas de envío de informaciones; se analizan cincuenta perfiles de periodistas en Twitter, así como la morfología y la función de 600 tweets, y se clasifican, según su formato y origen, aportaciones emitidas en los programas The Stream y Listening Post

Digital-native news media: Reach in 46 countries, top brands and user profiles in Spain

Digital-pure news publications have become competitive players in many countries, populating audience rankings in the context of a high-choice media environment. With the aim of gaining insight into the performance of digital-native news brands around the world and into how their audiences are similar or different to those of media with traditional roots in Spain, we draw on survey data for 2021 and 2022, respectively. First, we examine what proportion of online adults use any of the most popular digital-pure news brands in 24 mostly European countries and in 22 markets in America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and we highlight how the main digital-native brands rank among online news sources, based on their weekly audience reach. Then we compare the user profiles of the five most-used online-only news organizations in Spain, against the audiences of the top five legacy brands (N = 2028), looking at reader loyalty, gender, age, income and education levels, and political leaning. With this media-centric approach to audiences, we find that digital-native news media brands either lead (in 15 out of 46 countries) or occupy some of the top positions by weekly reach in most markets, with Nordic countries standing out as an exception. In Spain, audiences of the top digital-native brands check them slightly less frequently than the users of news sites with traditional roots. News sites in our study are slightly more popular among males, older people, and more affluent and formally educated users who can define their political stance. Nevertheless, the diversity of editorial approaches found among sites in an externally pluralistic news media market inevitably results in brands with user profiles that show exceptions to these trends

Journalism Expands in Spite of the Crisis: Digital-Native News Media in Spain

Digital-native news organizations have grown steadily in Spain since the mid-1990s and they have become established as a major force in the media market. Paradoxically, their biggest expansion coincided with the Great Recession (2008-2014). In fact, their numbers increased most during 2012-2013, when traditional media were cutting staff in response to the economic crisis, and unemployment rates in the media sector as a whole hit their peak. However, these digital-native news startups have yet to prove their sustainability and stability. This study uses our own database of 3,862 native and non-native digital news outlets in Spain and the Reuters Institute Digital News Report to analyze a number of characteristics of these media, such as the percentage that have gone inactive, the relative popularity of legacy brands vs. digital natives, multi-platform synergies, content subject matter, geographical location, ownership, and funding sources. Based on these quantitative parameters, this study reviews the structural strengths and weaknesses of digital-native media in the Spanish news market. Taking into account these findings, we conclude that the surge in digital-native news media observed in Spain during the Great Recession followed the pattern of creative destruction described by several economists

Quantifying digital-native and legacy, national and local news websites in Spain, their topic scope and platforms

This study was supported by the Diginativemedia research projects "Digital-native media in Spain: characterization and trends", funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the European Regional Development Fund (RTI2018-093346-B-C31), and "Digital-native media in Spain: Typologies, strategies, journalistic competences and sustainability", funded by National Investigation Agency, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2021-122534OB-C22).Digital media have become an integral part of the journalism industry and of audience habits - in 2021 our research registered 2873 active news websites in Spain. First, this paper explores trends facing online news; it sets out the criteria used to identify a news brand as digital-native or non-native; and it presents the results of our classification. This includes: data on the presence of news titles both on proprietary platforms (print, radio, TV or app) in addition to their websites, and on external platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Telegram); their geographic scope (hyperlocal, local/regional or national/global); their subject (general or specialized coverage); and on ownership and language used. Almost 70% of the media were regional or local, while 60% covered general news, and one in three were linked to a print product, almost as many as those with their own app for users. Social media uptake is so widespread that more than 95% of the sites are on Facebook, with a similar number on Twitter, while more than 60% can be found on YouTube, and similarly on Instagram. Among specialized sites, sport is the largest category, comprising twice as many digital-native sites (106) than sites with traditional roots (46). The entertainment focus expands in the digital environment, and online-originated culture, business and science and technology outlets also outnumber legacy publications.Els mitjans digitals s'han convertit en una part integral de la indústria del periodisme i dels hàbits de l'audiència: el 2021, la nostra recerca va registrar 2.873 llocs web de notícies actius a Espanya. En primer lloc, aquest article explora les tendències que afronten els mitjans periodístics digitals; després, estableix els criteris utilitzats per identificar una marca de notícies com a nadiua digital o no nadiua, i finalment presenta els resultats de la nostra classificació. Això inclou: dades sobre la presència de marques periodístiques tant en plataformes pròpies (premsa, ràdio, TV, web i app), com en xarxes socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Telegram); el seu abast geogràfic (hiperlocal, local/regional o nacional/global); la seva temàtica (cobertura general o especialitzada); la propietat i la llengua. Entre els resultats, destaca que gairebé el 70% dels mitjans eren autonòmics o locals, mentre que el 60% cobria notícies generals, i un de cada tres estava vinculat a algun producte imprès, gairebé tants com els que tenien una app pròpia per als usuaris. L'acceptació de les xarxes socials està tan estesa que més del 95% dels mitjans són a Facebook, un nombre similar són a Twitter i més del 60% es poden trobar a YouTube i a Instagram. Entre els llocs especialitzats, l'esport és la categoria més gran en els mitjans nadius digitals (106), que suposen més del doble dels mitjans no nadius especialitzats en aquesta temàtica (46). Així mateix, l'atenció a l'entreteniment s'amplia en l'entorn digital, i els mitjans nadius digitals centrats en cultura, negocis i ciència i tecnologia superen en nombre les publicacions tradicionals.Los medios digitales se han convertido en una parte integral de la industria del periodismo y de los hábitos de la audiencia: en 2021, nuestra investigación registró 2.873 sitios web de noticias activos en España. En primer lugar, este artículo explora las tendencias que afrontan los medios periodísticos digitales; después, establece los criterios utilizados para identificar una marca de noticias como nativa digital o no nativa, y finalmente presenta los resultados de nuestra clasificación. Esto incluye: datos sobre la presencia de marcas periodísticas tanto en plataformas propias (prensa, radio, TV, web y app), como en redes sociales (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube y Telegram); su alcance geográfico (hiperlocal, local/ regional o nacional/global); su temática (cobertura general o especializada); la propiedad y la lengua. Entre los resultados, destaca que casi el 70% de los medios eran autonómicos o locales, mientras que el 60% cubría noticias generales, y uno de cada tres estaba vinculado a algún producto impreso, casi tantos como los que tenían app propia para los usuarios. La aceptación de las redes sociales está tan extendida que más del 95% de los medios están en Facebook, un número similar están en Twitter y más del 60% se pueden encontrar en YouTube y en Instagram. Entre los sitios especializados, el deporte es la categoría más grande entre los medios nativos digitales (106), que suponen más del doble de los medios no nativos especializados en esta temática (46). Asimismo, la atención al entretenimiento se amplía en el entorno digital, y los medios nativos digitales centrados en cultura, negocios y ciencia y tecnología superan en número a las publicaciones tradicionales

Methodological approach to research journalism innovation

En este artículo proponemos una metodología para analizar y clasificar distintos casos de innovación en periodismo. Además de analizar este concepto y de repasar los principales debates sobre el asunto, queremos establecer unos criterios homogéneos que faciliten la tarea del análisis de la innovación dentro de las organizaciones periodísticas. Para diseñar esta herramienta, consideramos que las cuatro áreas principales de la innovación son: a) el producto o el servicio en sí mismo; b) los procesos de producción y distribución; c) la naturaleza de la organización o el equipo; d) las acciones y estrategias de comercialización y marketing. Estas cuatro áreas concuerdan con la tradición de la teoría económica e industrial y la revisión de la bibliografía específica en periodismo. La clasificación que proponemos servirá, primero, para alimentar una base de datos que recoja innovaciones específicas en distintos medios, iniciativas o casos y, segundo, una base de datos que registre información sobre el medio, empresa o agente que implementa la innovación. Con esta propuesta, los investigadores serán capaces de describir y señalar innovaciones concretas y de medir el origen, la estrategia, la naturaleza y el grado de innovación de cada una de esas iniciativas periodísticas. De esta manera, contribuimos no solo al conocimiento de casos particulares, sino también a entender mejor la transformación de los distintos aspectos de la industria periodística.This article presents a methodology to study journalism innovation in the industry trying to overcome the perspective of innovation as a technology adoption. We aim to adapt the standard typology of industrial innovation into the area of journalism. Therefore, our tool elaborates on the following four areas: a) the product or service itself, b) production and distribution processes, c) the overall organization of the company or the team, and d) marketing strategies and actions. These four areas are consistent with the tradition of economic and industrial theory and with the review of specific literature in journalism. The classification that we propose takes the shape of a form that feeds a database collecting individual journalism innovations, and a complementary form to gather data about the companies that implement them. With this descriptive methodology, researchers will be able to not only describe and depict individual innovations, but also to measure the origin, the strategy, the nature and the degree of disruption of those initiatives in the field of journalism

Journalism expands in spite of the crisis: digital-native news media in Spain

Digital-native news organizations have grown steadily in Spain since the mid-1990s and they have become established as a major force in the media market. Paradoxically, their biggest expansion coincided with the Great Recession (2008–2014). In fact, their numbers increased most during 2012–2013, when traditional media were cutting staff in response to the economic crisis, and unemployment rates in the media sector as a whole hit their peak. However, these digital-native news startups have yet to prove their sustainability and stability. This study uses our own database of 3,862 native and non-native digital news outlets in Spain and the Reuters Institute Digital News Report to analyze a number of characteristics of these media, such as the percentage that have gone inactive, the relative popularity of legacy brands vs. digital natives, multi-platform synergies, content subject matter, geographical location, ownership, and funding sources. Based on these quantitative parameters, this study reviews the structural strengths and weaknesses of digital-native media in the Spanish news market. Taking into account these findings, we conclude that the surge in digital-native news media observed in Spain during the Great Recession followed the pattern of creative destruction described by several economists

Social engagement with climate change: principles for effective visual representation on social media

Climate change communication on social media plays a prominent role in efforts undertaken by state agencies, NGOs, and international organizations, to make citizens aware of this phenomenon. The images used to communicate climate change are of great importance, since they can help to effectively raise citizen awareness. Building upon news values theory and the concept of availability heuristics, this research paper aims to identify principles that can be used for effective visual communication of climate change on social media on a cross-national scale, based upon analyses of characteristics of images that foster interaction on Twitter. We conducted a content analysis of a random selection of images (photographs, illustrations, and graphics, n = 380), posted on Twitter that were included in the so-called 'top tweets' about climate change. The results indicate that the types of images that are used on social media are relatively similar to those employed by conventional media, although images of identifiable people are less frequently shown on social media. We also deduced that four practical principles are especially relevant to foster user interaction on Twitter through images: (i) show 'real people' (i.e. non-staged images of people that transmit real emotions), (ii) tell a story, (iii) include a local connection, and (iv) show impacts or actions by people who are directly affected. These practical principles are based on the more general principles of meaningfulness and personification, two foundations that can help to overcome some of the main barriers to citizens' perception of climate change as a relevant issue with serious consequences in their lives. Campaigns on social media that use imagery based on these practical and general principles can be effective in communicating the shared responsibility to address climate change. This can have a relevant impact on social perception, since it can encourage citizens to care about climate, which is regarded as necessary to increase participation in climate action. Key policy insights Social media can play a prominent role in campaigns to make citizens aware of climate change. Images can help to effectively raise citizen awareness of climate change. Four practical principles can be effective in increasing user interaction on social media with images about climate: show 'real' people, tell a story, include a local connection, and show people who are directly affected. Visual campaigns based on the more general principles of meaningfulness and personification can be effective in representing climate change as a relevant issue in citizens' lives. These practical and more general principles can have a relevant impact on the social perception of climate change and increase citizen participation in climate debate and action

Quantifying digital-native and legacy, national and local news websites in Spain, their topic scope and platforms

Digital media have become an integral part of the journalism industry and of audience habits – in 2021 our research registered 2873 active news websites in Spain. First, this paper explores trends facing online news; it sets out the criteria used to identify a news brand as digital-native or non-native; and it presents the results of our classification. This includes: data on the presence of news titles both on proprietary platforms (print, radio, TV or app) in addition to their websites, and on external platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Telegram); their geographic scope (hyperlocal, local/regional or national/global); their subject (general or specialized coverage); and on ownership and language used. Almost 70% of the media were regional or local, while 60% covered general news, and one in three were linked to a print product, almost as many as those with their own app for users. Social media uptake is so widespread that more than 95% of the sites are on Facebook, with a similar number on Twitter, while more than 60% can be found on YouTube, and similarly on Instagram. Among specialized sites, sport is the largest category, comprising twice as many digital-native sites (106) than sites with traditional roots (46). The entertainment focus expands in the digital environment, and online-originated culture, business and science and technology outlets also outnumber legacy publications