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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to explore how local broadcast news stations use user-generated content (UGC), and what opinions producers at these stations have toward UGC. Studying local news stations’ use of UGC is important because it offers insight into the challenging ethical, legal, commercial and professional issues that broadcasters must consider when deciding whether and how to use UGC in general or certain types of UGC in particular. To conduct its analysis, this article builds its theoretical foundation using theories from the field of journalistic boundary work. The study relies on exploratory data from a Qualtrics survey, which was both administered in person and sent via email to news directors and producers at local broadcast news stations in the United States. Findings reveal that local broadcasters enjoy a uniquely high degree of flexibility to engage in boundary work, particularly through their ability to distinguish between the roles UGC can play within the more professional platform of newscasts and the more participatory online platform. Participants also reported following high ethical standards for using UGC. These findings suggest that local broadcast journalists can play a unique and exemplary role in shaping the boundaries between professional and amateur content.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Lynda Kraxberger, Amy Simons and Stacey Woelfel for their helpful comments on the research instrument. The authors would like to give a special thank you to Kent Collins for his efforts to secure participants for this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Brett G. Johnson (Ph.D. University of Minnesota) is an assistant professor of journalism studies in the Missouri School of Journalism where he teaches courses in journalism and mass communication law. Johnson employs traditional legal research methods as well as mixed- and multi-method approaches to study the social impacts of the rapidly changing legal and technological regimes governing emerging forms of journalism and online communication. Johnson’s research is grounded in a strong appreciation for First Amendment theory, which allows him to assess the fluid and oft-conflicting interplay between the law and social norms.
Caroline Dade is a sophomore at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she is a Walter Williams Scholar. She is a second-year Discovery Fellow through the University of Missouri Honors College, by which she works as an undergraduate research assistant with Dr. Brett Johnson. Her plans include majoring in the School of Journalism’s Radio-Television interest area. Caroline also works as a production assistant at KOMU, Mid-Missouri’s NBC affiliate.