Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations
Media reputation is an important asset of every organization but might even be more delicate for a multiple identity organization (MIO). MIOs usually have central, distinctive, and enduring characteristics belonging to two antithetical value systems, often the ideological and the utilitarian value s...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291122000985 |
| _version_ | 1811319978697162752 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert Heckert Margot van der Goot |
| author_facet | Robert Heckert Margot van der Goot |
| author_sort | Robert Heckert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Media reputation is an important asset of every organization but might even be more delicate for a multiple identity organization (MIO). MIOs usually have central, distinctive, and enduring characteristics belonging to two antithetical value systems, often the ideological and the utilitarian value system. This qualitative interview study explores journalists' understanding and coverage of MIOs and how both are impacted by journalistic role perceptions and by the nature and behavior of such organizations. The findings of this research provide insight into the journalistic production process and could be instructive for the media management of MIOs. The interviewees recognized the potentially problematic character of an MIO but were divided about the newsworthiness of organizational identity multiplicity. Besides a group of “explainer” journalists, who were neutral towards MIOs, there were “watchdog” journalists who were extra sharp-eyed when an MIO was involved. They observed a lack of transparency about the commercial goals and profits. Controversy in terms of internal and external tensions was found to be a particularly salient news value with respect to an MIO. During the COVID-19 pandemic the journalist's interest in the tension between the organization's identities seemed to disappear. The central conclusion is that organizational identity multiplicity may trigger the critical attention of journalists. MIOs should improve transparency, especially considering their commercial activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:52:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df3c3ffce56e4a0482a2de79b882cb92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:52:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-df3c3ffce56e4a0482a2de79b882cb922022-12-22T02:46:11ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112022-01-0161100344Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity OrganizationsRobert Heckert0Margot van der Goot1Corresponding author. University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), P.O. Box 15791, 1001 NG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), P.O. Box 15791, 1001 NG, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsUniversity of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), P.O. Box 15791, 1001 NG, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsMedia reputation is an important asset of every organization but might even be more delicate for a multiple identity organization (MIO). MIOs usually have central, distinctive, and enduring characteristics belonging to two antithetical value systems, often the ideological and the utilitarian value system. This qualitative interview study explores journalists' understanding and coverage of MIOs and how both are impacted by journalistic role perceptions and by the nature and behavior of such organizations. The findings of this research provide insight into the journalistic production process and could be instructive for the media management of MIOs. The interviewees recognized the potentially problematic character of an MIO but were divided about the newsworthiness of organizational identity multiplicity. Besides a group of “explainer” journalists, who were neutral towards MIOs, there were “watchdog” journalists who were extra sharp-eyed when an MIO was involved. They observed a lack of transparency about the commercial goals and profits. Controversy in terms of internal and external tensions was found to be a particularly salient news value with respect to an MIO. During the COVID-19 pandemic the journalist's interest in the tension between the organization's identities seemed to disappear. The central conclusion is that organizational identity multiplicity may trigger the critical attention of journalists. MIOs should improve transparency, especially considering their commercial activities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291122000985Organizational multiple identityJournalismNews factorsNewsworthinessJournalistic role perception |
| spellingShingle | Robert Heckert Margot van der Goot Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations Social Sciences and Humanities Open Organizational multiple identity Journalism News factors Newsworthiness Journalistic role perception |
| title | Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations |
| title_full | Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations |
| title_fullStr | Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations |
| title_short | Newsworthiness of Multiple Identity Organizations |
| title_sort | newsworthiness of multiple identity organizations |
| topic | Organizational multiple identity Journalism News factors Newsworthiness Journalistic role perception |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291122000985 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertheckert newsworthinessofmultipleidentityorganizations AT margotvandergoot newsworthinessofmultipleidentityorganizations |