Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany

In the wake of the news industry’s digitization, novel organizations that differ considerably from traditional media firms in terms of their functional roles and organizational practices of media work are emerging. One new type is the field repair organization, which is characterized by supporting h...

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Main Authors: Christopher Buschow, Maike Suhr, Hauke Serger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogitatio 2022-01-01
Series:Media and Communication
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/4454
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author Christopher Buschow
Maike Suhr
Hauke Serger
author_facet Christopher Buschow
Maike Suhr
Hauke Serger
author_sort Christopher Buschow
collection DOAJ
description In the wake of the news industry’s digitization, novel organizations that differ considerably from traditional media firms in terms of their functional roles and organizational practices of media work are emerging. One new type is the field repair organization, which is characterized by supporting high-quality media work to compensate for the deficits (such as those which come from cost savings and layoffs) which have become apparent in legacy media today. From a practice-theoretical research perspective and based on semi-structured interviews, virtual field observations, and document analysis, we have conducted a single case study on Science Media Center Germany (SMC), a unique non-profit news start-up launched in 2016 in Cologne, Germany. Our findings show that, in addition to field repair activities, SMC aims to facilitate progress and innovation in the field, which we refer to as field advancement. This helps to uncover emerging needs and anticipates problems before they intensify or even occur, proactively providing products and tools for future journalism. This article contributes to our understanding of novel media organizations with distinct functions in the news industry, allowing for advancements in theory on media work and the organization of journalism in times of digital upheaval.
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spelling doaj.art-ac35e88461264f949bcaefe14b718e892022-12-22T02:14:52ZengCogitatioMedia and Communication2183-24392022-01-011019910910.17645/mac.v10i1.44542335Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center GermanyChristopher Buschow0Maike Suhr1Hauke Serger2Faculty of Media, Bauhaus‐Universität Weimar, GermanyFaculty of Media, Bauhaus‐Universität Weimar, GermanyFaculty of Media, Bauhaus‐Universität Weimar, GermanyIn the wake of the news industry’s digitization, novel organizations that differ considerably from traditional media firms in terms of their functional roles and organizational practices of media work are emerging. One new type is the field repair organization, which is characterized by supporting high-quality media work to compensate for the deficits (such as those which come from cost savings and layoffs) which have become apparent in legacy media today. From a practice-theoretical research perspective and based on semi-structured interviews, virtual field observations, and document analysis, we have conducted a single case study on Science Media Center Germany (SMC), a unique non-profit news start-up launched in 2016 in Cologne, Germany. Our findings show that, in addition to field repair activities, SMC aims to facilitate progress and innovation in the field, which we refer to as field advancement. This helps to uncover emerging needs and anticipates problems before they intensify or even occur, proactively providing products and tools for future journalism. This article contributes to our understanding of novel media organizations with distinct functions in the news industry, allowing for advancements in theory on media work and the organization of journalism in times of digital upheaval.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/4454digital journalismfield repair organizationjournalismmedia worknews media start-upscience media center germany
spellingShingle Christopher Buschow
Maike Suhr
Hauke Serger
Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
Media and Communication
digital journalism
field repair organization
journalism
media work
news media start-up
science media center germany
title Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
title_full Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
title_fullStr Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
title_full_unstemmed Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
title_short Media Work as Field Advancement: The Case of Science Media Center Germany
title_sort media work as field advancement the case of science media center germany
topic digital journalism
field repair organization
journalism
media work
news media start-up
science media center germany
url https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/4454
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AT maikesuhr mediaworkasfieldadvancementthecaseofsciencemediacentergermany
AT haukeserger mediaworkasfieldadvancementthecaseofsciencemediacentergermany