This book explores innovative approaches to digital and data journalism in Latin America, brought by both legacy media and newcomers to the industry, with the purpose of examining this changing media landscape. As part of the Global South, Latin America has shown significant influence in the promotion of data and digital technologies applied to journalism in recent years. In this region, news entrepreneurs are becoming an essential source of innovation in news production, circulation, and distribution. The book considers news media, particularly in Latin America, as an open set of practices intertwined in the evolution of technology. It discusses the transformation of the Latin American news media ecosystem and considers how it has shaped the industry despite local differences. The study fills a significant gap in academic scholarship by addressing the multiple external factors, mainly political and economic, which have contributed to the relative lack of studies on the patterns of journalism in this region.
Author(s): Ramón Salaverría, Mathias-Felipe de-Lima-Santos
Series: Palgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 294
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Transformation of the News Media Industry in the Global South
Introduction
Innovations in Journalism Beyond Western Countries
Global South: A Source of Inspiration for Western Societies
De-Westernization of Journalism
Latin America: From Colonies to Political Clientelism
A Not-So-Distant Past
Media Systems in Latin America
A Set of Media Systems
State and Criminal Violence in Latin America
Limiting the Freedom of Speech and Access to Information
Less Peaceful and Press Freedom
From Legacy to Digital: Finding New Ways
Back to Basics
References
Chapter 2: The New Praxeology of Digital Journalism in Latin America: Media Organizations Learn How to Walk by Running
The Dynamism of Journalistic Practices
Learning by Action
An Interpretive Framework for a World in Constant Transformation
An Overview of Latin American Digital Media
Understanding the Praxis of the Latin American Journalism
One Mission: Occupying Space
The Challenge of Sustainability
Innovating in the Practices to Adapt to the Lack of Resources
Shedding Light on the Current Situation in Latin America
Final Comments
References
Chapter 3: In a Search for Sustainability: Digitalization and Its Influence on Business Models in Latin America
The Greater Incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies in the News Media Industry
Business Models: A Constant Evolution
Business Model Innovation: To Find New Revenue Opportunities
Buck the Status Quo: From Ads to New Paths
Improving Brand Awareness: From Traditional Programmatic Ads and Native Content to Social Listening
Further Exploring the Content: Merchandise Sales, Affiliate Marketing, Events, License
Creating Loyalty and Value-Added Products
From Traditional Models to New Paths
Membership: An Engagement Factor to Turn Audiences into Agents in the Journalistic Field
Philanthropic Backing to Prop Up Media Organizations
Counting with the Crowd: Crowdsourcing in Latin America
The Importance of Foundations in Latin America
Big Tech Platforms: From Competitors to Allies
Tech Platforms and the Temporary Grant-Giving to News Organizations
Education Initiatives and Events
Sharing Learning with the Community
Multi-revenue Model
Diversifying Your Revenue Stream in a Time of Uncertainty
References
Chapter 4: The Strategic Value of Data Journalism
Swiss Army Knife Data Journalism
Realizing the Potential of Technology
Awards: A Driver for Recognition and Motivation
The Power of Journalism Collaboration
A Long History of Collaboration
Alliances That Have Transformed and Expanded the Practice
Hybrid Profiles
Boosting Efficiency and Effectiveness to Be a Single Data Journalist or Small Data Desks
Leverage Standards with Out-of-the-Box Tools
Open Data to Address Social Challenges Within Communities
Bursting Bubbles
Beyond Their Own Communities
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Audience Metrics and News Decisions
From Abstract to Real: Making Audience Present, Characterized, and Quantified
Measuring the Audience for More than a Century
From Analog to Digital: The Origin and Use of Web Analytics
Web Analytics Services and Market
Effects of Metrics on Media Decisions
Metrics and Business Model: An Overview
Watchdogs, Not Lap Dogs
Metrics Are Like a Compass
An Overview of Metrics in Latin American Newsrooms
The Extent to Which They Provide Influence
Toward a Growing Importance of Metrics in News Work
A Great Step Forward
References
Chapter 6: Do You Help Us Make the News? A Discussion of the Uses of User-Generated Content by News Sites in Latin America
Introduction
Starting from the Basis
An Understanding of User-Generated Content
The User in the Center
An Initial Appraisal
Spaces for the User in Latin American Journalism
Beyond the Numbers
Not All User-Generated Content Is Created Equal
When Users Tell the Story
Notable Uses of User-Generated Content for Storytelling
Particular Cases: Are These User-Generated Content?
Noteworthy Efforts of Public Engagement
Broad Strokes
Mediation of User-Generated Content in Latin American News Sites
References
Chapter 7: News Consumption Through Social Media and Messaging Applications
Nurturing Mixed Feelings About Digital Platforms
When Social Media (Aka Facebook) Started to Look a Lot Like Casinos for News Publishers
Finding Different Uses to the Same Old Platforms
Social Media More as a Place for Engagement (and Attempt to Convert Readers into Subscribers)
A Different Kind of Story
Using Different Features from Emerging Social Media Platforms Like Instagram in Order to Engage with Readers Beyond Timelines and Newsfeeds
Being Everywhere
Diversification of Digital Platforms and Usage of Emerging Ones Beyond Social Media in Order to Engage with Readers
Other Platforms: YouTube
Other Platforms: Spotify
Conclusion
A More Strategic Approach to Platforms, Indeed, but the Dependence Is Still High
References
Chapter 8: A Challenging Future for the Latin American News Media Industry
An Uncertain Future
Finding New Strategies to Adapt and Profit in This Technological Disruption
A New Technology Revolution
A New Range of Opportunities
Automated Journalism: A Near Approach to News Reporting
Artificial Intelligence: Taking to the Next Level
Immersive Journalism: Putting the Audience in the Story
Wearables and Internet of Things: Toward a New Revolution
New Practices Bring New Formats
Fact-Checking: A Tool to Fight Disinformation
Cartoons and Newsgames: Bringing New Audiences
Collaborative Journalism
Solutions Journalism
Social Media Platforms
Big Tech Platforms: Friend and Foe
Adopting New Social Media Platforms
Rebuild Trust with Audiences
A News Workflow Based on an Audience-Centric Approach
Engaging Communities: Crowdsourcing and User-Generated Content (UGC)
Understanding the Audiences’ Needs Through Metrics
New Players: Bringing More Diversity
International Media Companies Becoming a Relevant Player
The Arrival of CNN Brazil
A Future Post-Pandemic
A Path Toward a New Age for the Media Industry
The Violence in Latin America: An Issue That Can Have Many Faces
A Future Digital Revolution Influenced by Many Actors
References
Index
