Collaborative, Open, Mobile: A Thematic Exploration of Best Practices at the Forefront of Digital Journalism

Abstract

Based on interviews with 72 data journalists, web developers, interactive graphics editors, and project managers in leading digital newsrooms around the world, this paper spotlights common processes, workflows, and tools used in the creation of stories. Beset by cyclical and secular market pressures and presented with a dizzying array of new technologies for news gathering, publishing, and distribution, news media has undergone a sustained period of upheaval. These interviews, conducted through the Storybench project at Northeastern University’s School of Journalism, offer a uniquely comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of news production and design practices. They also suggest that three key areas of emphasis have begun to emerge from the tumult. These include: highly networked, team-based collaboration; an ethos of open-source sharing, both within and between newsrooms; and mobile-driven story presentation.

Keywords: news, digital media, data journalism, digital storytelling, media industry