2010-01-10-皮尤-How_News_Happens_45页_615kb

How News Happens: A Study of the News Ecosystem of One American City
Investigation Background and Model Rationale

Introduction:

As media transforms in style, sources, and platforms, traditional journalism faces a shift amid the rise of digital platforms. The central queries addressed in this study are: Where does the news originate? Which entities predominantly report on community affairs, and what functions do blogs and specialized news sites play? How does the modern American news ecosystem function?

Moreover, with newspapers struggling economically—making professional journalism increasingly reliant on subsidies from networks, online platforms, and government—this study examines not only the sources of news but also the implications of their reduction, specifically the impact on citizens’ understanding of their local realities.

Core Findings:

1. Traditional Media Remain Dominant
   The study (conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism) focused on the news ecosystem of Baltimore by examining over 50 outlets—ranging from local television stations to blogs and niche publications. Despite the growing number of digital platforms, the analysis reveals that most news consumers still rely heavily on traditional institutions, particularly newspapers for substantial information.

   Key statistics:

   • 8 out of 10 stories studied were direct reprints or repackaged information from prior sources.
   • 95% of the stories containing original reporting stemmed from traditional media, with newspapers constituting over half of their output.
   • In 2009, the Baltimore Sun—which also maintained an evening and morning paper—produced 32% fewer stories than in 1999 and 73% fewer than a decade earlier.

2. Traditional Media Decline and New Media’s Niche
   As traditional print media’s capacity wanes, online and social platforms show promise in disseminating information. However:

   • Social media (e.g., Twitter) primarily functions as an early-alert mechanism rather than a news source, often relying on content from traditional media.
   • Blogs contribute minimal original content. Most instances of significant new information rely either on professional media outlets or governmental announcements.
   • Additionally, many new platforms fail to properly attribute sources or update citizen-participation content when information becomes outdated.

3. Additional Media Layered on Top of Traditional Outlets
   Newspapers utilized new platforms extensively. More than 30% of online newspapers’ stories were distributed through their websites rather than traditional print. Television stations made robust use of Twitter.

4. Case Study Comparisons and Government as News Driver

   • Covering state budget cuts (2009) generated significantly less coverage than in a similar 1991 incident, suggesting a substantial decrease in media attention.
   • Local topics were strongly shaped by police announcements, government initiatives in varying media sectors, and business/political interests which largely drove the public narrative.

Methodology Overview:

This study employed three methodologies:

1. Media Universe Identification:
   Researchers identified approximately 60 active organizations covering Baltimore from print, online, broadcast, and social media sources, focusing on those that produced regular local public affairs news.

2. First-Level Content Analysis:
   Analyzed 715 stories over three days from 41 outlets, coding each for format origin (e.g., original reporting vs. transmedia), geographic focus, and source.

3. In-Depth Examination of Six Major narratives:
   By tracking specific events (state budget cuts, the swine flu vaccine trials, juvenile justice investigations), the study mapped sources, times of initial reporting, narrative framing, and dissemination patterns across all media platforms.

In summary, though the audience landscape has broadened with new media tools, newspapers and traditional journalists continue to dictate what Americans know about their communities. The decline in professional journalism’s ability to produce original work coupled with a larger reliance on legacy sources raises questions about the future of local knowledge acquisition and the sustainability of a public-informed society. While new media adds nuance to the dissemination cycle, a crisis remains in sustaining historically rich, community-focused news ecosystems.