A1 Journal article (refereed)
The managerial and future-oriented role of audience data in data-informed news organisations (2024)
Ahva, L., Salonen, M., Ovaska, L., & Talvitie-Lamberg, K. (2024). The managerial and future-oriented role of audience data in data-informed news organisations. Journalism, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241285721
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Ahva, Laura; Salonen, Margareta; Ovaska, Liisa; Talvitie-Lamberg, Karoliina
Journal or series: Journalism
ISSN: 1464-8849
eISSN: 1741-3001
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 23/09/2024
Volume: Early online
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241285721
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/97569
Abstract
One sign of datafication in journalism is that newsrooms utilise insights from audience data and related metrics in their decision-making. In professional discourse, this often alludes to the notion of ‘data-informed newsrooms’ in which organisations are managed with the help of data. This article focuses on the managerial role of audience data in such organisations: What types of audience data inform newsrooms, which domains of newsroom management are being informed by data, and what kinds of visions motivate the future of data use in news organisations? These questions are answered based on empirical material from three different research projects (2020–2022) in Finland, including both qualitative interviews and survey results featuring the views of varied journalism professionals on data use. The theoretical framework draws from conceptualisations of anticipatory governance. Professionals’ interpretations of audience data reveal the basic elements of data sources, types, systems and storages that inform the organisations. Such audience data are used for four main management purposes–leading individuals, work processes, the news product, and the audience. The role of audience data in the future preferably includes elements of predictability, fairness, usability, and depth. However, there are discrepancies between the visions themselves as well as the views of the managers and journalists, which results in an ongoing negotiation about the suitable role of audience data in news organisations.
Keywords: newsrooms; news reportage; digital media; audience; datafication; audience reception research; journalism
Free keywords: anticipatory governance; audience analytics; data-informed newsroom; data-driven management; digital journalism; newsroom management
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2024
Preliminary JUFO rating: 3