Participatory journalism, blurred boundaries: Introducing theoretical IS frameworks to re-orient research practices

Abstract

Social media now plays a pivotal role in how broadcast media engages with their audiences. This paper contemplates the nature of our digital media culture, the diversity of actors involved and how the role of the journalist has evolved. The methodology includes examining the findings of a pilot re- search study investigating journalists’ information practices in the digital realm. Two theoretical frameworks from the discipline of Information Science are introduced to re-orient research practices. The findings reveal digital journalism facilitates richer and more expansive storytelling, with connectivity between experts, journalists and the public. The author posits that the citizen-informant is reconceptualised in the news milieu.