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Item Media Accountability Goes Online(2012-01-13) Baisnée, Olivier; Domingo, David; Glowacki, Michal; Heikkilä, Heikki; Kus, Michal; Pies, JudithThe Internet is both a challenge and an opportunity for media accountability. Newsrooms and citizens are adapting existing practices and developing new ones on news websites, weblogs and social media. This report offers the first comparative study on how these practices are being developed and perceived in thirteen countries in Europe (Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, United Kingdom), the Arab world (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia) and North America (USA). Through the analysis of data on the media systems and in-depth interviews with journalists, experts and activists, the study maps the initiatives performed by media organizations and explores media criticism projects promoted from outside the newsrooms. The concept of journalistic fields proposed by Bourdieu provides the contextual analysis of the diversity of countries. It articulates the relationships between the media and the political and economic fields to explain how they shape media accountability developments on the Internet. The role of media self-regulation institutions and the active user culture enabled by the Internet are other actors considered in the description of the tensions surrounding media accountability in the journalistic fields. In this context, the study suggests that media accountability online is being enacted in practices that vary from country to country depending on the perceptions of journalists and newsrooms about it, the interplay of accountability aims with economic and political goals of the media, and their positions in the dynamic struggle for credibility within the journalistic field. Few media accountability practices are widespread in the countries analyzed, and the actual developments are very uneven in terms of motivations, technical tools and workflows. The analysis shows that those countries where there are more active online practices (USA, UK) are some of those with lower trust of the public in the media. In other contexts, such as the Arab countries, the efforts towards media accountability are mainly led by those citizens and journalists that also struggle to democratize society. The challenges in Europe seem to be maintaining the autonomy of the journalistic field, and while practices within and outside media organizations are scarce and often not systematic and institutionalized, the study has found cases that highlight how the Internet can be an effective tool to promote ethical journalism by fostering transparency and responsiveness.Item Sympathy for the devil(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Baisnée, Olivier; Balland, LudivineAlthough frequent debates about the impact of the Internet on news production and journalism have occurred in France, legal or institutional devices specific to online journalism have not been set up. The lack of regulation of online practices is just a continuation of the French history of media accounting systems (MAS), since very few instruments have ever existed for ‘traditional’ media. Practices of online journalists are not regulated any further than their offline colleagues. Since no formal regulation bodies or sets of rules exist, we focused on the actual practices of French online journalists in order to give an account of the unwritten rules and mechanisms that frame their daily work and, actually, prevent (most of the time) journalistic misbehaviours. The lack of institutionalised online MAS has not turned the French online media world into a journalistic ‘wild west’. Indeed, by studying the practices of these journalists, the aspects that appeared were: 1) opposing positions both in terms of practices and of legitimacy structuring the world of French online journalism; 2) continuity between offline and online journalistic practices; but also 3) changes that the Internet has introduced to journalism.Item Critical citizens online(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Evers, Huub; Jempson, Mike; Powell, WayneThe UK has a rich tradition of media journalism and, online, UK news organisations demonstrate a range of accountability and transparency techniques. Most media organisations provide public information on company ownership. Others issue mission statements, but while the regulator’s ‘codes of conduct’ are published online, many outlets do not provide ‘in-house’ codes. There is room for improvement especially in terms of their production transparency. Although by-lines are generally used in newspapers and magazines, explanations as to how stories have been generated are rare. Despite the growth of online news, there remains a lack of references and links to sources in reports. Many news correspondents do have their own blogs, through which some communicate with their readers. The BBC also has staff blogs which are used to explain editorial decisions. More and more journalists use Twitter and Facebook, although very often this seems to be as a source for stories, especially about celebrities. There has been criticism of such use of social media, and journalists’ failure to discuss their work and decisions with the public, preferring instead to announce stories and link to their own websites. The broadcast regulator Ofcom and the self-regulatory Press Complaints Commission have extensive websites and provide an online opportunity for members of the public directly affected by a programme or story to make formal complaints. Nonetheless the PCC is often criticised as weak even by journalists, and trust in print journalism remains low. There are now only two ombudsmen or Readers’ Editors listed with the international Organisation of Newspaper Ombudsmen (ONO). There are a variety of media accountability initiatives outside news organizations, including charities, academics and individuals. Media criticism in the blogosphere is vivid and appears to be influential. Social networks have also begun to play an important role in holding the media to account. Several recent controversies have increased public interest in challenges to the credibility of some news organisations.Item All the sides of censorship(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Ferjani, RiadhThe historical formation of the national media field in Tunisia shows that media accountability issues are mainly shaped by the autonomization and professionalization of journalists vs. state control and censorship. Scrutiny of the transformation with the national media field since the end of the 1990s reveals the emergence of several mechanisms and new spheres of debates, which are contributing to shape a nascent movement of reflexivity and criticism on news making practices and representations of society. Online journalism and others initiatives are evolving between continuities and ruptures with the traditional media. The continuities are related to the different positioning of the profession vis-à-vis state control. When the ruptures occurred the Internet offered possibilities to widen editorial freedom, to enhance independence from advertisers and to diversify public expression of opinions. This report explains the developments in media accountability online just before the revolution at the end of 2010. Interviewees were granted anonymity considering the political situation at that time.Item Entrenched in detachment(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Domingo, DavidIn a media system where self-regulation is poorly institutionalized, the development of media accountability online practices is in the hands of initiatives of the newsrooms under the scrutiny of a vibrant of media bloggers. The polarization of political positions in the blogosphere and the principles of journalistic neutrality clash with a dynamic that seems to deter transparency practices. Online-only news sites seem to be more keen than traditional media websites to be responsive to the audience, but accountability is seen more as a natural feature of the Internet than as a journalistic principle.Item Media Accountability Practices Online in Syria(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Madanat, Philip; Pies, JudithMedia Accountability in Syria is more a question of re-defining the role of media in society than working on transparency practices or establishing self-regulation. This is due to strong state control and the mobilisation role mass media has been playing in Syria for decades. Before opening its media market for private publications in 2001 Syrian media was controlled either by the state or the ruling Baath party. Media accountability institutions like press councils or ombudspersons were simply not necessary in this concept of media and therefore do not exist. The only professional organisation, the Syrian Journalists Syndicate, did not act as a representative of independent journalists but as a representative of the regime. Additionally, as all journalists and media outlets had to work for more or less the same purpose, norms for guiding individual or organisational decisions – such as a code of ethics – were superfluous. Although these conditions still persist in major parts of the media field, news websites In addition, news websites have added new topics to the traditional news agenda by taking the audience into account, and thus have contributed to holding the media accountable for aspects the old media does not cover. Thus, at least in some cases, media has played the role of being a watchdog over political decisions, which role media has never previously adopted. have particularly contributed to a shift in society’s perception of the role of media by paving the way for media accountability practices in the field of responsiveness. Even though instruments for responsiveness might be part of an economic strategy of news websites to enter and survive the news media field, news websites have introduced an audience oriented journalism approach by providing collaborative story writing or possibilities for the audience to comment on news. This is a fundamental change in role perception as mobilising media was merely meant to serve the Baath elite and its ideas. Thus, the audience as a neglected actor of accountability seems to have entered the field. Yet, media accountability as a strategy to become independent from the regime is not thinkable at the moment. Other than one non-governmental organization (NGO), neither institutions nor individuals point systematically to press freedom violations or occurrences hindering independent media. Discussions have not taken place either on issues such as the establishment of an independent press council or ombudspersons. At the moment, the state still restricts the development of a diverse field of media accountability, but is slightly losing control.Item From one transformation to another(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Glowacki, Michal; Kuś, MichalThis report on innovations of media accountability and transparency in Serbia underlines the main tendencies related to the current discussions on the challenges for media in an era of social changes and technological development. On the basis of available literature and the interviews conducted with Serbian media experts, scholars and practitioners in Belgrade (December 2010) several trends have been observed. Hence, the paper deals with cultural, social and political context, the level of journalistic professionalization as well as the effectiveness and legitimacy of existing media accountability and transparency institutions. An in-depth analysis of the development of new media platforms and Internet users’ culture helps to define some of most significant examples of external and internal practices, strategies and cases maintaining media accountability and transparency in the online space. The research on the usage of social networks and blogs, as well as on practices fostering actor and production transparency as well as the level of media responsiveness underlines the current stage and future scenario of the evolution of system making Serbian media organizations accountable and transparent.Item Poland(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Kus, MichalThe concept of media accountability is a relatively new issue in Poland, both for Polish media researchers and journalists (media professionals), as well as for media users. Traditional institutions and instruments of media accountability are not very well developed (see Głowacki & Urbaniak, 2010). In this context, possible development of media accountability innovations online creates significant opportunities for fulfilling existing gaps in this area. A desk study and interviews conducted with Polish media scholars, experts and practitioners in the second part of 2010 have showed that this potential of innovations, offered by new technologies (especially the Internet) is, at the moment, only partially exploited. The paper analyses contextual factors of media accountability online practices in Poland, the level of journalistic professionalization, the effectiveness and legitimacy of existing media accountability and transparency institutions – but, above all, media accountability online practices initiated by media and outside media.Item Between hope and fear(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Groenhart, HarmenNews media in The Netherlands show great variety in the extent and ways, in which they realize media accountability online in terms of actor transparency, product transparency and feedback opportunities online. It is suggested that even those news rooms that seem to adhere to transparency and public accountability still need to explore the functionality and application of media accountability instruments (MAI). Both in terms of potentials and pitfalls, news rooms need to consider about what they want to be transparent and in what ways. To the extent that online innovations are visible, traditional news media seem to experiment, as is the case with newsroom blogs or the project of hyper local journalism Dichtbij.nl, part of the Telegraaf Company. Various news media have on-going projects on audience participation, online applications and distribution models. However, since many projects merely aim at finding new applications, processes, platforms and business models, it remains to be seen assess whether projects are indeed reasonably innovative and feasible at the same time. The development of an online and therefore immediate, archived, personalized and interactive context, offers practical and ethical challenges to Dutch journalism. These challenges bring shifts in its role and responsibility to society. It means that changes occur in what journalists are accountable for, as well as ways in how they are accountable. The Dutch media landscape lodges various professional accountability instruments like the press council and both profession-wide and news media specific codes of ethics, but some of these instruments receive only moderate support. Proactive openness is more an exception than the rule and may well be a distinctive indicator for quality journalism. Although news media often acknowledge the importance of media accountability offline and online, they often lack the resources or courage to use them or have different priorities. This ambiguous position may indicate that in relation to media accountability online, Dutch news media are between hope and fear: that it will either improve their relationship with the public and fuel professional quality, or ask too much of resources with too little benefit.Item New Media – Old Problems(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Elsaeßer, Christine; Madanat, Philip; Pies, JudithLebanon’s media has been envied for its press freedom and high quality by many Arabs from the region for decades. After 15 years of civil war the media had quickly started to flourish again. Yet, internal and external observers have been concerned about the close links between the media and political and religious groups that have led to highly politicized journalism. There is no professional organisation that could unify journalists from the various fractions and set in force binding rules like a code of ethics. A media council does not exist, journalists unions are not involved in media accountability practices and a state’s ombudsman has never been instituted. Yet, internal accountability practices are relatively well developed. As political affiliation of media outlets is openly handled (e.g. staff is mainly recruited from each media’s particular political group, party emblems are published prominently, mission statements and ownership information are partly available), Lebanese normally know how to interpret the news. Accountability practices that were already in evidence in offline media have been adopted by the majority of websites, such as by-lines, precise references in stories and letters-to-the-editor. Internet specific practices have only been partly adopted. While allowing comments on each article is available on half of the analysed websites, practices strongly integrating the audience in production processes like collaborative story writing can only be found on one TV website. Pure Internet practices like media accountability (MA) Facebook groups or watchblogs do not exist in Lebanon and if users of Facebook and Twitter or bloggers do appear, they seem to follow the same sectarian lines as Lebanon’s society and media audiences. The only Internet practice solely dedicated to watching the entire media field and its independence is the relatively new website of SKeyes. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) play the most important role in initiating discussion about media accountability and in building MA capacities by focusing on media literacy. Here again, the Internet is not a pre-requisite but a tool for supporting or easing their activities.Item Beyond State Regulation(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Madanat, Philip; Pies, JudithHolding the news media accountable has traditionally been a task of the state in Jordan. Media laws and regulations are numerous and do not leave too much space for self-regulatory practices on a national basis. The Jordan Press Association (JPA) is the core of so-called established media accountability institutions. It conducted a law-like code of ethics in 2003 and runs ombuds committees (currently three) dealing with mishaps of the media to prevent journalists from legal liability. Though being a professional body, many journalists perceive the JPA as an extended arm of the government. Until 2010 the association was not prepared to deal with private broadcasting and online journalists in the same way as it does with press and state owned media journalists. Most media outlets in Jordan are characterised by a lack of accountability awareness and practices especially when it comes to actor and production transparency. Only recently have some news organisations (mainly net-native) become aware of their duty to be accountable towards their audiences. New comers to the field of online news, in particular, have experimented with citizens’ involvement and have established a high level of responsiveness in their newsrooms. Online versions of the traditional news media have not yet caught up with this development but will be most probably forced to do so for economic reasons. Apart from economic strategies to better involve audiences, another driving force for media accountability practices in Jordan is the lack of media legitimacy mainly rooted in distrusting the media’s independence from the state. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) point towards contempt of press freedom (e.g. Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists), lack of citizen concerned topics (e.g. AmmanNet, 7iber.com) and professional behaviour (e.g. Eye on the Media), or try to deepen the knowledge about the functioning of media (e.g.sahafi.jo). Blogs and social media play only a minor role because media criticism mainly gets louder when wellharboured taboos are tackled. Yet, blogs and social media might become the place to initiate discussion or to negotiate professional rules in the future of a fast changing media field.Item Can a million toothless tigers make a difference?(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Eberwein, Tobias; Evers, HuubWhile trust in German journalism is being challenged by recurrent journalistic misbehavior, the necessity of a functioning media accountability landscape is more pressing than ever. In fact, the German media system offers a notable variety of self-regulatory instruments that aim at safeguarding the quality of journalistic reporting. Their effects, however, seem to be limited: The German Press Council is taunted as a “toothless tiger” because of its lack of sanctioning power; media journalism has to cope with its inevitable problems of self-referentiality; and accountability mechanisms on the level of the newsroom are only slowly gaining ground. This report discusses the potentials and pitfalls of web-based accountability processes in German journalism. Can they complement traditional instruments of journalistic self-regulation and compensate their deficiencies? Can they accomplish a better involvement of civil society actors in the debate about journalistic quality? As an analysis of the current data on Internet usage in Germany shows, the conditions are quite favorable: The Internet has a rising significance in people’s everyday life; however, the disposition to actively participate in the production of online contents is still low in most parts of the society – just as the willingness of many newsrooms to support user integration. Qualitative expert interviews, which were conducted for this report, demonstrate that a considerable diversity of online practices fostering media accountability in Germany has been developing in recent years. Different case studies substantiate the assumption that the multitude of new voices, which is characteristic for the novel kind of media criticism in the Social Web, may well have a positive impact on practical journalism. At the same time, it becomes clear that recent innovations in media accountability are far from being a panacea for the deficits of traditional journalistic self-regulation. Particularly, the editorial handling of journalistic mistakes still leaves much room for improvements. The case of user comments on online news stories shows that web-based accountability processes may even lead to new ethical problems which have not been tackled systematically so far.Item Leaving it up to professionals (and the market)(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Heikkilä, HeikkiTransparency and media accountability have gained more prominence in Finland recently with regard to two main factors: Firstly, the news media have become whistle-blowers with regard to a few political scandals over recent years, which have triggered public debate over the power of media and ethical conduct of journalism. Secondly, controversies have risen with regard to the ‘ownership’ of opinions published on online discussion boards and whether or not these should be submitted to the responsibility of journalists. Even though these themes have captured a lot of public attention, in the context of surveys, the future of journalism and public trust in the news media are not seriously in peril. While citizens in general do not merely use the media but also tend to discuss the news, their role in shaping media accountability practices on the Internet seems limited. Despite the majority of Finns using the Internet on a daily basis, the volume and prominence of media watch-blogs and also attempts to create participatory forms of journalism online have remained scarce. In the absence of a ‘bottom-up’ movement, issues related to media accountability have been taken by traditional institutions of self-regulation: the press council (CMM) and professional organizations supporting the CMM. As a result of their actions, the guidelines of journalists and institutional procedures of the CMM have been updated in order to meet with new challenges. While these attempts tend to draw support from most journalists and citizens in general, there are some signs of differences of opinion about how the Internet is expected to shape journalism and public communication. There is, on the one hand, a strong line of thought that seeks to incorporate online news to the domain of professionalism and self-regulation. On the other hand, the interviews conducted among the Finnish experts signal that the consensus over forms and norms of journalism is not completely harmonious. Rendering news organizations transparent, and enhancing dialogue between producers and users, is endorsed as a principle but the enactment of such practices is not among the primary priorities for media organizations. Nonetheless, relative optimism prevails in that as online journalism is on its way to redeem its status economically as well culturally, this would enable media organizations to launch new practices, including those related to media accountability. This optimism may not be warranted on the basis that online news practices are developed in a strongly competitive market. In this environment, ethical values such as accountability and trust may appear incompatible with short-term economic goals.Item ‘A Sleeping Mechanism’ for the time being?(MediaAcT/Erich Brost Institute, 2011-06-01) Glowacki, MichalThis report summarizes the main tendencies related to the current discussions on selfregulation and media ethics in Bulgaria, in an era of social change and technological development. On the basis of available literature and the interviews conducted with Bulgarian media scholars, experts and practitioners in Sofia (November 2010) several trends have been observed. The paper deals with the cultural, social and political contexts, the level of journalistic professionalization, as well as the effectiveness and legitimacy of existing media accountability and transparency institutions. An in-depth analysis of the development of new media platforms and Internet users’ culture helps to define some of most significant examples of external and internal practices, strategies and cases maintaining media accountability and transparency innovations in the online space. The research on the usage of social networks and blogs, as well as on practices fostering actor and production transparency and the level of media responsiveness underlines the current stage and future scenario of the evolution of system making Bulgarian media organizations accountable and transparent.