A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation

The rising adoption of the Internet in India has contributed to the growth of digital news media organisations. Unlike the traditional advertiser-subsidised business model based on audience commodification, some of these new media firms rely on technology to offer news as a public service under an a...

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Main Author: Sreekala Girija
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group 2019-01-01
Series:tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/909
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author Sreekala Girija
author_facet Sreekala Girija
author_sort Sreekala Girija
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description The rising adoption of the Internet in India has contributed to the growth of digital news media organisations. Unlike the traditional advertiser-subsidised business model based on audience commodification, some of these new media firms rely on technology to offer news as a public service under an ad-less business model. Using a case study of Newslaundry, this article critically analyses whether interactive online technologies can help create media organisations untainted by the economic rationalities of capitalism. Following a mixed methodology approach that utilises data from 25 interviews with the Newslaundry team and mainstream journalists as well as a variety of text materials, the study finds that news loses its public good character due to Newslaundry’s efforts to make profits. The analysis suggests that the interactive nature of the Internet does not automatically lead to democratic participation.
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spelling doaj.art-7b3d374834e1434bb1e9fd6201f727c32023-08-02T00:11:39ZengPaderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research GrouptripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique1726-670X1726-670X2019-01-01171385510.31269/triplec.v17i1.909909A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media OrganisationSreekala Girija0University of Hyderabad, IndiaThe rising adoption of the Internet in India has contributed to the growth of digital news media organisations. Unlike the traditional advertiser-subsidised business model based on audience commodification, some of these new media firms rely on technology to offer news as a public service under an ad-less business model. Using a case study of Newslaundry, this article critically analyses whether interactive online technologies can help create media organisations untainted by the economic rationalities of capitalism. Following a mixed methodology approach that utilises data from 25 interviews with the Newslaundry team and mainstream journalists as well as a variety of text materials, the study finds that news loses its public good character due to Newslaundry’s efforts to make profits. The analysis suggests that the interactive nature of the Internet does not automatically lead to democratic participation.https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/909digital news mediapublic service newsad-less business modelsocial mediamarketplaceuser data
spellingShingle Sreekala Girija
A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique
digital news media
public service news
ad-less business model
social media
marketplace
user data
title A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
title_full A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
title_fullStr A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
title_full_unstemmed A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
title_short A Case Study of Production Practices and User Participation in an Advertising-Free Digital News Media Organisation
title_sort case study of production practices and user participation in an advertising free digital news media organisation
topic digital news media
public service news
ad-less business model
social media
marketplace
user data
url https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/909
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