The “Status” of News – Implementation of Networked Technologies in Television News Organizations Dr. Tamar Ashuri Tel-Aviv University, ISRAEL Dr. Atara Frenkel-Faran Sapir Academic College, ISRAEL

The implementation of new technologies in news organizations is partial and sluggish Studies on journalism

Reasons for the limited usage of new networked technologies in news organizations in Israel [News desks of Channel 2 and 10] Identify the elements that enable and constrain the implementation of innovative technologies in these news organizations Research Objectives

‘Technological frames’ “The core set of assumptions, expectations and knowledge of technology collectively held by a group or community.” Substantial insights into how technologies are developed in organizations and how people interact with changes in their work arenas can be gained by examining key actors' notions of technology Research Framework

1 The nature of technology 2 Technology Strategy 3 Technology in use Model – Frame Domains

4 The nature of the profession Model – Theoretical Addition

Research Questions BUT the reasons for the actual (partial and sluggish) use of technologies by journalists NOT whether and how networked technologies facilitate transformations in the journalistic environment

How do journalists in a given news organization understand the technologies they use and their functionality? Research Question - 1

How do journalists perceive their journalistic profession and the contribution of the emerging new technologies to their work? Research Question - 2

How do journalists explain their organizations’ acquisition of a specific networked technology, how do they understand the use of this technology, and the likely or actual conditions and consequences associated with such use? Research Question - 3

Semi-structured interviews Elite producers/editors/journalists Israeli television news desks – Channel 2 and Channel 10 During the summer and fall of 2011 Research Methodology

Marketing Source Real-time field testimony Home television viewers Findings

Limited use Importance recognition Conclusions

The Ethical Aspect The Social Aspect The Economic Aspect Conclusions

“ The chief problem with the Internet in general is the lack of hierarchy, that I perceive as a substantial obstacle to total, meaningful transition from traditional to online media. People have to receive a fuller picture … What they want is a summary … People don’t really want to follow events all the time and are very pleased to have someone inform them and give them a broader and rounder picture of the situation.” Conclusions – The Ethical Aspect

“ ‘People, whatever happens, we’re here and we’ll also be here tomorrow at eight.’ No matter how critical the events may be, no disaster is big enough to keep us from being here tomorrow. I [the viewer] went through the worst things in life together with him [the presenter] and we persevered. That’s what’s so nice. As we all go our separate ways, this place is the zero point – not just for the news but even more importantly for the chaos, for the home, for society.” Conclusions – The Social Aspect

Journalists believe that as long as their organization is unable to derive profit from the new technologies, it will not invest significant resources in them Conclusions – The Economic Aspect

Adherence to traditional conceptions of broadcast journalism is what limits full use of networked technologies General Conclusion

The “Status” of News – Implementation of Networked Technologies in Television News Organizations Dr. Tamar Ashuri Dr. Atara Frenkel-Faran