Participation and Control

Abstract

This article investigates commentary journalism online, based on a case study of the Norwegian regional newspaper Nordlys and its online commentary and debate section. The aim is to discuss how journalists perceive the loss of control when technologies and users interact with the debate agenda online. Actor-network theory is used to explore the interaction amongst editorial staff, new technologies, professional norms and the participation of audiences. The findings reveal that digital technology becomes a powerful actor in the network of public media, as it directly affects the forms of journalistic presentation and public debates. In addition, new technologies contribute to the empowerment of audiences, who gain better access to both the newsroom and the wider public.

Keywords:

• Actor-network theory
• audience participation
• commentary journalism
• digitisation
• interpretive journalism
• public opinion
• regional newspapers

Notes

1. See http://www.mediebedriftene.no/Tall--Fakta1/Opplagstall/.

2. In this part of the research, we conducted a content analysis, qualitative text analysis and interviews with 11 editors and columnists in six regional newspapers, including Nordlys. This was conducted in 2013/2014.

3. The content analysis consists of 1123 articles: 475 editorials and 648 columns in six regional newspapers during autumn 2013.

4. See http://presse.no/pfu/etiske-regler/vaer-varsom-plakaten/vvpl-engelsk/.