OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Managing User-generated content on media websites Piet Bakker ASCoR - University of Amsterdam / Hogeschool Utrecht

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Dutch internet use

Reach Dutch newspaper websites

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Use of newspaper websites (month) 2007 I/II2008 I/II2009 I/II # visitors4.6 million (33%) 6.3 million (43%) 6.9 million (50%) # visits141619

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Newspapers, journalism, new media Three studies –Blogging on news sites (Hille & Bakker) –Visual UGC on media websites (Pantti & Bakker) –The value of UGC for news (Bakker & Pantti) Method –Interviews (36) –Websites analyzed (15)

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Key publications Normative –Bowman & Willis, 2003; Gillmor, 2004 –Keen, 2006 Empirical –Paulussen et. al, 2007; Bergström, 2008; Chung, 2008; Domingo et. al, 2008; Hermida & Thurman, 2008; Örnebring, 2008; Thurman, 2008; Hermida, 2009.

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 A majority of editors (…) complained that getting acceptable written content - e.g. stories - from citizen journalists usually required significant investments of newsroom staff time to train, coach, educate, confirm and edit. Project for Excellence in Journalism (2008, p. 26)

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Research questions Impact on news & journalism? –Under what conditions what kind of value for news content? –Collaboration or contribution? –If no news, then what do users contribute? Business perspective –Costs & costs savings

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Expectations: positive but carefull Tsunami, 9/11, London & Madrid, Van Gogh Availability of camera equipped phones International role model BBC & CNN Expecting a dialogue with readers when my house is on fire, I dont see the fire brigade but someone with a camera

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Free User- Generated Content news (leads) discussions interesting for readers more visitors advertising revenues cost saving interesting for journalists more transparancy communication with users more loyal users financial benefits journalistic benefits

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Experiences: hopes & disappointments Comments Accountability & transparency Loyal readership Exceptional circumstances Predictable Few contributors Finding news is an exception. Im disappointed when I have less than 30 comments for my story.

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Exceptions: NRC, AT5 & Unieuws NRC Handelsblad –Readers I stories –Expert blogs AT5 –News pictures & videos –Usable in TV news Unieuws –Closing the holes in the news-net

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Weak spots: abuse & counterfeits Quality of content –in terms of news its minimal –Racism and abuse in comments –Anonymity Photoshop artists –You have to be sure that it is really what its supposed to be

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Moderation & direction Different moderation regimes –Journalists moderating –Heavy users moderate –Outsourcing moderation –Closing topics for comments –Self-cleansing (complaints) –Ban & block users Alternatives –Registration –Promotion –Direction –Participating

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Expected & fringe benefits Expected benefits –We certainly have a community –Its the accelerator for the number of visits Non news benefits –Within three hours we had 700 photos –the ikjes became the most popular part of the website.

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Free User- Generated Content interesting for journalists interesting for readers news (leads) discussions cost saving more visitors advertising revenues more transparancy communication with users more loyal users financial benefits journalistic benefits Moderation Quality Non-news

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Implications for theory Audience participation, interactivity & participatory journalism –U&G becoming a reality? Technology: broadband, multimedia, comments, crowdsurfing, blogs, twitter, Youtube, Flickr, social networks –Technological determinism rediscovered

OBS* Conference | Lisbon | 23 November 2009 Discussion Reluctant journalists? or... The myth of audience participation –Exceptions: focus, local, personal (non-news) The lacking business perspective