A burning issue: Online Media and Xenophobia

(Wits University: Online Journalism Feature Assignment)

One of the most memorable photographs to emerge from the recent spate of xenophobic violence in South Africa is that of a man being burnt alive. “Flames of Hate”, most media called it.

The combination of this image and its headline sent shockwaves through the world, sparked international debate and left the South African nation divided between those who condoned and those who disapproved of the violent acts.

Yet while newspaper images like these are by now lying at the bottom of the birdcage and broadcasts are never to be repeated on television or radio, turn online and there they are – immortalised. In the digital cybersphere unconstrained by time or space, the issue is still very much alive.

The online media have had the opportunity to use the web as a platform for multimedial, interactive and non-linear story-telling in their coverage of xenophobia. Through making use of the characteristics of online journalism (multimedia, hyperlinks and interactivity), involving users by enabling comments, or engaging their audiences via blogging or citizen journalism, the web enabled online media to cover the topic in a converged manner that can’t be reproduced by the traditional media.

Whether this was done, however, is a burning issue.

This feature takes a critical look at five websites that have dealt with the recent xenophobia. The aim is to compare the websites in their treatment of the topic but specifically, to analyse whether they made use of the characteristics of online journalism in their efforts to bring their stories or messages across. From user interaction it can be established whether their treatment has been successful.

1. The Times Online

The Times have a dedicated page for a special report on xenophobia.

In comparison to other South African online news media, The Time’s online coverage of xenophobia is the most advanced in terms of offering hyperlinking, interactivity and multimedia. The design is inviting, colourful and modern and attracts an internet-savvy audience.

The page is divided into three columns and sports the latest photo on the issue. In the left column are news and analysis pieces. While hyperlinks are not found specifically in article texts, typical article pages offer images and links to related stories. Articles are kept short, language-usage is direct and informal.

Several interactive features are found but most importantly, users can comment on articles as well as other multimedia on The Times’ multimedia portal.

In the middle column are links to exclusive audio, as well as to several blogs, including reader blogs and that of The Times editor Ray Hartley. Putting his users directly into contact with him through his blog breaks the barriers of one-way communication of the traditional mass-media and the notion of an editor far removed from his reader.

In the right column are over 20 originally produced photo-slideshows and videos on the topic.

The amount of user-interaction and comments that the The Times’ multimedia coverage has provoked is profound.

For example, the narrated slideshow Flames of Hate has been commented on over 550 times and viewed almost 79000 times.

Through making use of the characteristics of online journalism, The Times’ coverage served its purpose in raising awareness of the topic, encouraging open debate and potentially being a tool for social change.

The Times’ coverage is comprehensive, offering users choice and the option of participation in their news consumption, which has proved effective.

The success of their coverage compelled me to know The Times’ recipe of success. Take a look at my video interview with their multimedia editor, Carly Ritz:

2. Mail & Guardian Online

M&G offer a dedicated page for a special report on xenophobia. The link to this page from the home page seems somewhat lost in a text-heavy design.

A typical article page offers A) a long article with no hyperlinks; B) no pictures, graphics or other media; and C) a few links to related articles.

Interactivity on article pages are limited to features like ‘get news via email’; ‘RSS’ feeds; ‘mobile news’. A ‘find related blogs’ link at the bottom of news pages hasn’t been widely adopted, perhaps because the link is lost on the page.

Disappointingly, there is no option for the user to comment on articles and insight pieces. Users can, however, comment on photos in the photo gallery page, which has a more inviting and interactive design. The photos have provoked almost 270 000 views and 206 comments.

M&G placed a timeline of the xenophobic events on the special report page with links to stories covering the big events on each day. This is a unique and interactive way of helping users keep track of developments.

There are two blog links. One is to Talkback, where users are encouraged to debate a question on the topic. This has provoked 50 comments. The other is to Thought Leader, where posts provoked an average of 20 to 40 comments each – proof that M&G users have the need for interaction. However, no links to reader blogs were found.

While coverage of the topic is extensive and the insight pieces some of the best available, the website is flawed in terms of online journalism. The design is uninviting and offers very little interactivity and hyperlinking and virtually no multimedia.

Here’s why: Check out my slideshow interview with M&G online editor Riaan Wolmarans:

3. Afrigator

Afrigator is an aggregator of blogs, news, video and audio for topics concerning Africa.

The site has created several hot topics of discussion, of which “The Xenophobia Crisis” is one.

The xenophobia page has collected over 950 blog posts from citizens, journalists and news blogs, mostly from South Africa but also from other parts of the continent. The amount of posts found gives a reflection of the vast amount of people on the blogosphere debating this topic.

What is interesting, and rather disappointing, however, is that these blogs have provoked little reaction. Even though there are some brilliant posts that try encourage free debate, very few actually have comments.

Only one podcast has been collected on xenophobia, but the page offers links to various news articles from different media as well as over 70 videos and slideshows from YouTube.

The page navigation is not as user-friendly and there aren’t many interactive features, however, both hypertext and hypermedia links are well done.

The concept of collecting blog posts on xenophobia is brilliant in that it has the potential to raise awareness on the issue, encourage free debate and give more people access to each other’s blogs to discuss the same topic.

However, the Xenophobia Crisis aggregator has seemingly not provoked the desired effect, judging by the lack of substantial user-interaction and comments.

This could be due to Afrigator not being established on a well-known news agency’s brand name, making it more difficult to find as well as, perhaps, bringing its credibility into question. Web users looking for news, blogs, video and audio on xenophobia are perhaps also more likely to search well-known news sites.

Proof of this is in Afrigator’s stats. The top two most visited blogs that link from the Afrigator site are that of The Times and Thought Leader from M&G.

4. CNN

CNN’s coverage provides users with three interactive choices on each article: “read” (in which users can read a text article that makes use of hyperlinking); “videos” and “photos”.

Both hypertext and hypermedia are used effectively. Article pages typically offer images and “story highlights” which summarises the article for the reader. Links to related articles are placed in a “Don’t miss” box in article texts, which draws the reader in and make for easy navigation.

Various interactive features, including share, download, RSS-feeds, email-to-friend are used. There are also links to blogs from readers, journalists and news sites. One journalist blog on this topic has drawn 110 comments, many of which are from South Africans and ex-pats, expressing their disgust at the violence. The blog therefore facilitates a global conversation and serves as a platform for specifically South Africans to raise their voices on a foreign news site where they know the world is looking.

A great interactive feature is offered via the ireport link, which is a sort of citizen journalism portal that encourages users to upload their stories, photos and videos, thus stimulating news participation from users.

Although coverage is limited in terms of the number of reports, coverage is comprehensive in terms of giving users a choice between multimedia, as well as links to analysis and in-depth online articles by Time Magazine.

Interesting to note is the difference in coverage between foreign and local news agencies.
Most videos produced by CNN relate the xenophobic attacks to violence seen in the Apartheid era.

This one, found on YouTube, had over 4000 views and 41 comments.

CNN’s articles and videos are written and produced from the perspective of outsiders looking in and provide perspective and context through hyperlinks in the case of articles and narration in the case of videos and photo slideshows. This is in sharp contrast with the way the South African sites analysed in this feature have covered the topic.

5. YouTube

This social networking site aggregates news and analysis videos and vlogs from different news and blogging sites on the web.

The sheer volume of attention xenophobia videos on YouTube have drawn is astounding.

The site thus provides comprehensive video and photo slideshow coverage from many different corners of cyberspace, giving the reader choice and diversity from both news agencies and the general public.

Although the site makes use of mainly one form of multimedia, being videos, the amount of user-interaction (some xenophobia videos have been viewed over 20 000 times and commented on literally hundreds of times) is proof: 1. Of the site’s popularity and effectiveness even though it uses mainly a video-medium only; and 2. That a social networking site has proven successful in facilitating free and open debate as well as raising widespread awareness of the issue.

Searching for “xenophobia in South Africa” delivers a page with over 120 videos and moving slideshows, but not all are directly related to the recent attacks in the country.

In the right-hand corner there are around 33 directly related videos. Videos show their rating, when it was added and the amount of views. Interactive features include rating and sharing videos. What’s interesting is that users can comment via both text and by placing a video response.

Easy navigation and user-friendly applications encourage users to load their videos at the click of a button and within a matter of minutes.

The converse of this, however, raises the question whether the reliability and credibility of content on this site can be disputed.

CONCLUSION:

Of the local sites analysed The Times’ coverage is by far the most advanced in terms of making use of the characteristics of online journalism. Judging by the amount of user interaction the site’s coverage has been successful.
Mail & Gaurdian’s articles offer more in-depth analysis and context of the topic, but their website is flawed and therefore their multimedia and interactive coverage is limited.
While Afrigator had a brilliant concept in that it had the potential to put bloggers in contact with each other and stimulate a global conversation about the topic, the site didn’t provoke the desired amount of attention. The reasons for this are debatable.
CNN’s coverage is comprehensive and offers multimedia, interactivity and hyperlinking. Although their coverage is not as up-to-date, it has drawn the desired effect judging by the amount of comments. The coverage also encourages user participation in the news-making process.
Finally, the amount of attention xenophobia videos have provoked on YouTube is profound. The use of video media offered users a variety of news and analysis on the issue, but also became a vlogging platform for ordinary citizens to be heard. YouTube also serves as a platform where existing news videos gain an incredible amount of extra exposure, thus it increased awareness of, discussion about and participation in the issue.

*Analysis for this feature was done between 6-9 June, 2008.

* For interest’s sake: I found this video on YouTube (it’s an analysis of SA print media’s coverage of xenophobia): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA7FAZsT1U8

God’s justice

Wow! The internet is an amazing thing. The amount of comments I have received from you in such a short space of time is beyond my comprehension. Thanks to everyone who’s joining my conversation on my journalistic journey.

My post about the policeman being shot has provoked the most attention it would seem… So I just have to share with you the story that I covered today.

I went to cover a house robbery. Two robbers attacked a family in their house, the house owner started struggling with one of the robbers. The house owner’s puppy, which he had gotten just yesterday for his birthday, started barking at the robbers, so one of the robbers shot the puppy dead.

Here’s the wierd part: While the house owner was struggling with the one robber, the robber with the gun tried to shoot the house owner, but instead the bullet hit the other robber in the neck.

Now, you were commenting on how bad crime is and the lack of resources for our SA police. To me, today’s story is just proof that God’s still there, watching. He hasn’t forgotten our country.

I sincerely hope all of you will frequent my blog and keep on giving your views – for me as journalist, your comments help me think of story ideas and of follow-ups to my articles. It helps me tremendously to know what the public thinks and then I can follow up on your thoughts in my journalism. This is what online journalism is about!

So keep blogging!

But hey, here’s someone who’s keeping SA smiling – Check out the latest Vern pic:

Spare a thought

There are many types of crime we just have to deal with in South Africa, but when a cop gets shot it’s just something I can’t stomach.

Today I covered a story of a cop who was shot in the stomach when he and his partner caught ATM-bombers red-handed. Insp. Thys van Wyk (41), father of three young kids, was shot with an AK47. Interestingly, his partner Insp. Philip Botha (39) was shot in the stomach only eight months ago – when the two caught a group of hijackers red-handed. They have been buddies for 23 years – for as long as they’ve been in the police service.

And they tell me this won’t stop them protecting people from hardened criminals…

I know it sounds cliche - but this is very close to my heart: When you’re home safe and warm this Winter, spend birthdays and Christmases with family or enjoy a holiday at the coast – spare a thought for the many cops and paramedics working day in and out, risking their lives for us for nothing but a measly salary. Especially South African cops. There have been over 250 ATM-bombings since January alone, more than half of these were in Gauteng. Crime in this country is at an all-time high - I don’t have to tell anyone that.

There’s more to photos than meets the eye

Five people from the same family are missing: Mom, dad, son, daughter and daughter’s four-year-old boy. They vanished without a trace, together with the little boy’s mom’s fiance.

Myra Blanche Clur (62), her husband Charles Henry Joseph (68), their son Ivan (28), daughter Tamryn Caitlyn (21) and her little boy Tyler (4) disappeared on 3 April with Tamryn’s fiance Cole Graham Liam Heart (28). The police have now launched a countrywide search after realising Heart’s ID is false.

What I couldn’t write in my print article today, was that the police suspect something very sinister happened to the family – I know what they’re thinking, but can’t reveale it yet. The boy’s eyes are haunting me… What happened to this innocent child?

A very concerning issue to me as journalist is the resources available to the South African police, and therefore the media, when it comes to missing persons.

Take the photographs I’ve been given today to publish. These photos are supposed to help readers identify the missing people and lead police to finding them. The police expect the media to help them find missing people in this way.

However, most of the time they are only given an ID photo – mostly only a copy of the ID photo – which they then scan before giving it to the media for publication. The loss of quality in images is severe, with the end result being that the person on the photo can’t really be identified. So how do the police find the missing people? And how do the media help?My answer is education. The general public needs to be educated that in South Africa, it is absolutely necessary for all  of us to keep updated photographs of ourselves and our loved ones. Unfortunately,  we need to be keeping photos that we know will help anyone in their search for us and our children, should we suddenly disappear.

More needs to be done.

 

 

Samwu strike stinks!

The streets of Ekurhuleni on the East Rand of Johannesburg are a mess!

Today I covered the Samwu (South African Municipal Workers Union) strike that entered it’s third week in this area and I was both disgusted and entertained: disgusted at how municipal workers can overturn rubbish bins, break streetlamps and throw rubbish across the streets – destroying public property with no compassion for the tax-paying public; as well as at how the Ekurhuleni-metro can allow this to happen. And entertained because the metro said it is now up to the public to do their own refuge removal, because it’s simply too dangerous for non-striking workers and contractors to perform this core municipal service.

What a joke! Why must the public put out more money for a core service they’re already paying rates and taxes for?

And do the 8000 Samwu members not realise that, as soon as the strike is over, they are the ones who will have to clean up their own mess? Wake up! You’re just making more work for yourself!

Where are the days of civil negotiations?

Wits Online Journalism Class of 2008

Our class visited the Mail & Guardian Online (www.mg.co.za) yesterday.   The first thing I must mention about M&G is that they all work on Apple Macs, wow!

The online team is currently working hard on creating the new-look site, which will include more hypertext, interactive features and multimedia including video. It will also be more colourful, with more images – a major improvement from the existing site, which is built on a limited, old CMS (content management system)  template that doesn’t allow for much multimedia.

The new site will be launched on 17 June 2008. Thanks to online editor Riaan Wolmarans for the trip!

In the pic: Werner Theron (M.D. The Hothouse Communications); Craig Jenkinson (senior journalist, SABC radio); me!; Jenny O’Grady (SAPA senior reporter); Isaac Esipisu (Wits online journalism lecturer); front: Ntando Ncube (Zim Online reporter in South Africa).

Interactivity: The heart of online journalism

Of the three characteristics of online journalism, namely hypertextuality, multimediality and interactivity, the latter lies at its very core. No other traditional medium is able to offer the same interactivity level as the internet.

This is because the medium of the web, embedded on the internet’s limitless boundaries considering time and space, has become a platform that closely resembles human interaction (Chung, 2008), enabling people across the world to interact with one another. Chung (2008 ) describes this interaction as the conversational ideal, giving users a sense of satisfaction, motivation, fun and learning (Rafaeli, 1988). Yet the implications of interactivity for both journalists and users are much more profound.

Online interactivity has been described and defined in many ways. Deuze (2003) distinguishes between navigational, adaptive and functional interactivity, with the latter being like human interactivity in that it involves personal interaction. Downes and McMillan (2000, quoted in Domingo, 2008), define interactivity as the power of the user to control communication and even manipulate the message sent by the producer. Svanaes (n.d.) contends that interactivity signals both a general phenomenon and a property of the medium. Interactivity is based on design, function, usability and speed of response to user interaction (Hitchcock, 2003).

Chung describes three forms of online interactivity, the first being user-system interaction, for example ’send to a friend’ or ‘download’ options; and the second being middle-ground interactive features like customising, polls and submitting comments functions.  It is the third kind of interactivity, however, namely human or interpersonal interactivity, that refers to users interacting with one another and with the media, via emails, chatrooms or message boards and even blogs, that distinguishes new media from the old.

The web’s many-to-many way of communication breaks the barriers of the traditional top-down, one-way hierarchial structure of producing news. On the web, anyone can produce news and this interactivity challenges conventional journalism by taking away the gatekeeping function of the media (Chung, 2008).

The ideology of what online interactivity can mean for journalism has been challenged by two things: many news sites have been critised for not making use of interactivity (Paul, 2005; Hitchcock, 2003; Kenny et al, 2000), and research has shown interactive features are not really made use of by users (Chung, 2008). This could be due to many factors, including the lack of knowledge in using interactive features and that described by Chung (2008), but I believe one can’t pinpoint it to the exact causes, as both the online environment and audiences are changing constantly and rapidly. One can therefore not assume, like Chung, that journalists need to know their audiences before choosing which interactive features to include on their news sites.

I concur with Domingo (2008), who contends that the traditional professional journalistic culture is what prevents journalists from exploiting online interactivity. My view is that traditional journalists need a mindshift in their practice of online news.  Journalists think in terms of stories, news values and public service, while online users think more of connection, organisation and movement among information between many people (McAdams, 2005). Journalists need to think of new ways to make use of interactivity in their news sites, because this can complement their journalism as it allows users to become part of the news-making process.  Interactivity in online news sites is therefore not optional, but essential (Hitchcock, 2003).  I believe interactivity can be a tool for social change, with jounalists being the driving force

The challenge in newsrooms, however, is that journalists see interactivity as a problem that they need to deal with, instead of an opportunity to enhance their journalism (Domingo, 2008). Perhaps a clearer understanding of what interactivity means for journalism, and training in order to implement interactivity, is needed in newsrooms to overcome this and inform new methods of practice towards the future of online journalism. 

In South Africa however, the situation is different, where cost (of connection, broadband etc.) and slow download times (i.e. the Telkom monopoly), for both the media and user, is a major factor in hampering the growth of technologies, and therefore interactivity in news sites. This should, however, not paint a grim picture for South Africa’s online journalism as things are certainly changing (Manoim 2000). A recent example of how interactivity was embraced by South African online audiences came from the Vernon Koekemoer phenomenon.

It is fair to say then, that journalists should embrace the implications and advantages of interactivity for the profession. This will allow for better relationships between journalist and user, and between user and user, with the ultimate effect being both the enhancement of journalism and the promotion of conversation and free debate in democracy. 

Summary 7: Domingo, D. (2008). Interactivity in the daily routines of online newsrooms: dealing with an uncomfortable myth. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13 (680-704).

 Domingo looks at the “myth of interactivity”, suggesting that the professional culture of traditional journalism has a huge effect in online newsrooms, as this prevents journalists from developing most of the ideals of interactivity, because these ideals don’t fit into the standard news production routines.

 

Domingo quotes Bruns (2005) as saying that weblogs and citizen journalism has revitalized the idea that the internet will make journalism like a conversation in which the audience collaborates to the news.

There’s a general perception of the advantages that online journalism holds but few of these ideals have realised. Instead, there’s a gap between journalist’s perception of the internet’s potential and user’s actually making use of interactive features (Deuze et al, 2004).

Therefore it’s imperative to understand how journalists deal with interactivity in the newsroom, and what the reasons are for choosing to use certain interactive features on their sites.

The paper suggests that the professional culture of traditional journalism makes interactivity a problem to deal with instead of an opportunity for change.

 

Interactivity is the power of the user to control the communication and even manipulate the message sent by the producer (Downes and McMillan, 2000).

The internet’s many-to-many way of communication has allowed anyone to produce news, and journos may find themselves left behind in a new generation of communicators (Seib, 2002).

But others say the sheer amount of online info creates a filtering role for the journo.

Therefore, journalism evolves from producing fact to producing meaning.

 

The threat on journalism is that the increased transparency between readers and users may weaken the profession’s authority, enabling bloggers to claim some of the monopoly of journalism functions (Lowrey and Anderson, 2005).

McMillan (2006) is quoted as defining three levels of interactivity: user-user; user-document and user-system.

 

Domingo looks at the following interactive features: 1.content customisation: users can personalise the news to best suit their needs, but this can be seen as endangering the social cohesive role of journalism. This also fragments an audience, but does enable a better journalist-user relationship.

2. Audience feedback: putting email addresses with stories allows the audience to comment, critic, and collaborate with the news. This allows users to take on the watchdog role but also users can be the eyes of the journo- submitting content.

3. Citizens’ Debate: This places issues in the public debate that would’ve otherwise not been dealt with in the media.  Unlike mass media, the Internet can easily be a platform of

many-to-many discussions, open to anybody without limitations (Hall, 2001).

4. Citizen journalism: where readers become part of the professional news production process; thus changing journos’ role from producer of news to conductor of debate.

 

Despite this there’s a global trend in not utilizing interactive features on news sites.

After analysing the online newsrooms of four European news sites, Domingo concludes that:

-          Journos blame limited resources for low interactivity

-          Comments/discussions are managed as problems as journos think they need to control content – a traditional professional journalism culture.

I agree that journalists are conditioned to think in terms of traditional journalistic norms so it makes sense that this kind of thinking would prevent journalists from exploiting any or all of the characteristics of online journalism, even though they have an understanding that it’s necessary to use those characteristics for a successful site.

I think a mindshift is needed in the way we think about online journalism, and that journalists need more training and a clearer understanding of the reasons why we should, and how we can, make use of interactivity on our news sites.

The Koek phenomenon began online

Here’s proof that South Africa’s online media is catching up to the rest of the world. The proof is in the pudding – or rather… in The Koek (the cake)!

The character of Vernon Koekemoer, a middle-aged man sporting a mullet hairdo and some unusual fashion gear, was created online, became very popular very quickly online and still continues online.

Vernon Koekemoer became a virtual superstar after a photograph of him at a Boksburg party was posted on the Internet. It first went round via email, afterwhich someone started a Facebook group called Make Vernon Koekemoer Famous (it has over 6000 members!), from which people started photoshopping the original image.

The news spread fast through online social groups like Facebook and emails were widely circulated. At the core of the phenomenon was interactivity. People were encouraged to take the same photograph and manipulate the character into different scenes. Thousands were, and still are, blogging their hearts out. It rang true to the South African online audience and The Koek became an overnight virtual hit.

Only after this did the printed media pick up on the story and jumped on the bandwagon – revealing The Koek’s true identity (Cassie Booyse from Brakpan) and interviewing him. Now, Vernon is on t.v. too – we see him in a very funny Nando’s advert with Chuck Norris and in an advert for Vodacom.

He’s South Africa’s answer to Rambo and Chuck Norris. And now it seems everyone wants a slice of The Koek!

See The Koek and Chuck Norris in a gatswaai! And watch The Koek, our East Rand Hero:

 

Summary 6: Chung, D.S. (2008). Interactive Features of Online Newspapers:

In this piece, Chung identifies 4 interactivity features, user patters and factors that predict the use of interactive features.

 

Interactivity challenges the traditional one-way flow of news by allowing users choice and even to become part of the news production – so interactivity has the potential to change conventional journalism through online news. Online newspapers are encouraged to share control of the news by allowing communication between readers and readers and the journalists.

Traditional news media have delivered information through a top-down, centralised model with journos being gatekeepers. But online news media present greater opportunities for control and ownership because users can interact while consuming news.

Chung quotes Rafaeli (1988), who writes that the consequences of interactivity are satisfaction, motivation,

sense of fun, cognition and learning.

Online interactivity closely resembles face-to-face interaction; the ideal being the “conversational ideal”.

While medium interactivity can be seen as the user-system/document interaction; for example send to a friend option, photo galleries, or downloads; there are middle-ground interactive features like customizing, submitting comments, polls, stories etc.

Human interactivity refers to users interacting with one another through a communication channel or medium; these are features that promote human-human communication, like emails, chatrooms, message boards. This interpersonal communication distinguishes online from print and other traditional media.

Deuze (2003) distinguishes between navigational, adaptive and functional interactivity, with the latter being like human interactivity in that it involves personal interaction.

Online media have been critisised for not fully exploiting human interactivity.

 

Influences on the use of interactive features:

The amount of time spent online (the more time the more use)

Level of perceived skill for using the net

Credibility of the medium

Perception of online news

Civic involvement and political engagement offline (studies show people who engage in online activity are more likely to engage in political activities.  (civic involvement = people use features to express ideas/opinions;  political engagement =  people use features for interpersonal communication).

 

Chung concludes that interactivity in online news sites was cast in a rosy light and the adoption of interactive features by users exaggerated.

She finds that users are not using interactive features extensively as anticipated; so online news sites don’t have to adopt all the interactive features

“It appears that the news audience does not actively engage in various

uses of interactive features on news websites, especially the features that facilitate communication

and the expression of ideas—features that require more effort to be utilized.” (Pg 673)

 

Chung makes the following conclusions:

Online news sites should know their audiences – then decide which interactive features to put on their sites, which features would be used by their audiences?

It’s important to build up credibility with one’s audience – this will encourage them to use the interactive features.

Online news sites should try educating online users.

 

 

I believe Chung offers a valuable and interesting critical look of interactivity in online news. It’s quite interesting that the study found that people who are politically engaged are more likely to use interactive features. It was my belief, before I read this, that users of online interactivity are mostly a younger audience that are more technologically driven. But this provided a different view.

It makes sense to know your audience before implementing interactive features. I do however, think that online sites should invest in all kinds of interactive features – if only to test the waters because the online audience and environment is forever growing and changing.