Participatory journalism – the (r)evolution that wasn't. Content and user behavior in Sweden 2007–2013. Issue 3 (13th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karlsson, Michael; Bergström, Annika; Clerwall, Christer; Fast, Karin
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer-mediated communication. Volume 20:Issue 3(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 311
• Publication Date: 2015-02-13
• Subjects: Participatory Journalism -- Online Media -- Deliberation -- Surveys -- Content Analysis; Telematics -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.20285
• DOI: 10.1111/jcc4.12115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-6101

Abstract

Abstract: A contemporary debate in media studies concerns participation and empowerment, and to what extent digital media shift power to the citizens. This study assesses the long-term viability of participatory journalism using Swedish content and user data. Inclusion of comments and blog-links on news sites increased from 2007 to 2010, and decreased rather dramatically from 2011 onward. Posting user comments or writing blogs have never been activities that have appealed to a majority of the Swedes. Participatory journalism seems to have decreasing value to producers and little appeal to users. A shift in how power is distributed in the public sphere is absent. This is not primarily a problem of reluctant producers but, more importantly, a lack of interest from users.