Digitalisation has altered journalism’s relationship with its audience. Due to audience analytics and the ease of digital communication, the audience is now virtually present in newsrooms. This project aims to understand how newsrooms currently view their audiences and how this affects journalistic practices. The project consists of three sub-studies:
1.An ethnographic study in the Finnish tabloid Iltalehti concentrates on the use of analytics in the newsroom and its effects on editorial work and the perception of the audience. The study was part of the project “Journalism Shaped by Data”. Project duration: January 2023 – February 2024. Funding: Helsingin Sanomat Foundation.
2.The second sub-study concentrates on the direct feedback and tips that newsrooms get from their audience. Through thematic interviews, it aims to understand how the messages from the audience are managed in newsrooms, their significance for editorial work, and their role in the journalism–audience relationship. Project duration: March 2024 – February 2025. Funding: Journalistisen kulttuurin edistämissäätiö JOKES.
3.The third study delves into journalistic practices connected to gathering the audience’s experiences on different subjects, often through forms at the end of articles, and making stories based on the audience-generated material. It strives to understand the nature of reciprocity in the journalism–audience relationship. Project duration: March 2025 – February 2026. Funding: C. V. Akerlund Media Foundation.
Funding source
Helsingin Sanomain Foundation, Journalistisen kulttuurin edistämissäätiö JOKES, C.V. Åkerlundin Media Foundation
Co-operators
Iltalehti