Study shows 24-7 newsroom improved journalism

• By: ASNE staff
• On: 05/26/2009 00:00:00
• In: Surveys

The continuous news desk has made journalism better, according to a recent study by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The survey looked at how journalists feel about the impact of the growing prevalence of the Internet and continuous news desk on their editorial products and how various newsrooms are handling the pressure associated with the 24-7 news cycle.

The Center for Advanced Social Research of RJI surveyed 970 daily newspaper editors and 869 reporters December 2008 and February 2009. ASNE was a partner in the research.

Fifty-six percent of editors and 64 percent of reporters felt that the emergence of the Internet has improved the quality of their news product, whether in print or online.

More specifically, 73 percent of both groups reported that their ability to cover breaking news was better, compared to three years ago.

Although a clear majority of editors and reporters agreed that the demands of publishing around the clock had increased the deadline pressure they now face, journalists seemed to have handled the challenges of multimedia journalism well. Most felt that their newsroom staff, including both print and online, was capable of writing for the Web.

With regard to training, 65 percent of editors and 53 percent of reporters told researchers that their news organizations have provided training such as writing, graphics, layout, or design for Web publishing during the past three years. They noted, however, a need for more effective training.

Multimedia news coverage, including blogging, is now the norm in most newspaper newsrooms, as the study shows. Nearly two-thirds of the journalists interviewed said their continuous news desk staff blog and more than three-fourths do other multi-media storytelling.

An overwhelming majority of the journalists (84 percent of editors and 83 percent of reporters) said that their organizations operate Web site and print newspaper as an integrated product tailored to different formats, rather than treat them as separate and distinct entities.

A complete report of the study findings will be available this summer on the ASNE and RJI Web sites. RJI is also planning to survey the American public with the same questionnaire in its 2009-10 fiscal year.

By Ken Fleming, associate director of research, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute.

flemingk@missouri.edu