In this thesis, media convergence strategies and added value of digital news services are investigated, focusing on the newspaper industry and it’s audience. Convergence implies that previously unalike areas come together, approaching a common goal. A subordinate concept of convergence, i.e., media convergence, is a concept that has become common when denoting a range of processes within the production of media content, its distribution and consumption. Newspapers are one of many so-called publishing channels that provide information and entertainment. They have traditionally been printed on paper, but today’s digital technology makes it possible to provide newspapers through a number of different channels. The current strategy used by newspaper companies involves a process of convergence mainly regarding multiple publishing. A newspaper company interested in publishing content through multiple channels has to adapt its production workflow to produce content not only for the traditional printed edition, but also for the other channels. In this thesis, a generalized value chain involving four main stages illustrates the production workflow at a newspaper company in relation to the convergence processes. The four stages are creation, packaging, distribution and consumption of content. One of the aims of this thesis is to assess how the views and strategies of newspaper companies concerning media convergence correspond with the opinions and views concerning convergence of their audience. In order to discuss this, seven types of media convergence are suggested. Furthermore, the thesis explores how the newspaper industry is relating to the processes of convergence, using two examples: newspaper companies’ ventures into the use of moving images, and the newspaper companies’ strategies for a future epaper edition. Among the findings of this thesis are that digital news services can add value to a newspaper company, however that the digital news services investigated, in their current form, are not sophisticated enough to give added value as perceived by the audience. The findings of the thesis are based on studies of the newspaper industry in Sweden and reflect specific newspaper companies, their strategies, production workflow and ventures from 2002 to 2007. The methods used have mainly been case studies and surveys. / QC 20100622

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of English

Free newspapers are a substantial segment of the newspaper industry, as well as an under-studied topic within media research. This dissertation considers the economic health of free newspapers and whether they face a dire future given their heavy reliance on advertising, a source of revenue that has been in decline for newspapers. Some industry observers suggest it is supreme folly for newspapers to give away their content for free, and that advertising is no longer a reliable revenue source for print media in the Internet era. One question guiding this research is whether free newspapers face two options: continue producing free content by relying on advertising (in addition to other revenue sources), or abandon the advertising-based business model. Seven research questions address a number of issues, such as whether free newspapers are profitable, if decision-makers are considering changing their business model, whether they are seeking alternative sources of revenue, whether reader engagement is connected to the price, or a lack of one, of a newspaper, and whether decision-makers are optimistic or pessimistic about the future of their industry. A Web-based survey asked decision-makers at free newspapers in the United States to respond to questions related to the health and future of their newspaper or newspapers. Four in-depth interviews with publishers of four different types of free newspapers in Texas were also conducted to complement results generated by the Web-based survey. Results show decision-makers at free newspapers are confident about the future of their particular kind of media. The dissertation concludes by suggesting free newspapers are not only viable but in many markets they are thriving. Sweeping generalizations (often seen in industry discourse) about the future of print newspapers can be misleading. The key for success is engaging readers with content and that means a focus on local issues and events. This study contributes a reality check and calls for further research on the economics of print media in the digital era. / text

After decades of digital developments, we are now entering a truly digital era. Digital information and communication technology has become a naturally embedded part ofthe designed environment we live in. Most parts of life are today pervaded by digital products and services. Evidence of such immersion can be noted in, for instance, media consumption. This development is gradually shaping and cultivating a media environment that is ubiquitous. Such ubiquity is manifested in media’s constant presence and thechanges in media consumption in the purview of digital innovation. Indeed, digital innovation is not only a shift in technology. It alters existing value networks and calls forrethinking existing value perceptions. While this disruptive change driven by digitizationcan be found in many industries, this thesis focuses on its impact on value networks in thenewspaper industry.The digitization of newspapers started with the introduction of the internet in the 90´sand soon emerged into new media innovations. While these new media innovations have not replaced existing media, they have been disruptive to newspaper value networks. Recently, the emergence of yet another digital innovation is specifically interesting whenstudying changes to value networks of the newspaper industry: the e-paper. This innovation (a screen technology very close to print on paper) exhibits inherent valuesthat make future replacement of print on paper a possibility. It is therefore regarded as avery promising technology in the newspaper industry. This thesis can be positioned at the intersection of the friction between forces to embarkon a new media trajectory and forces to hang on to the established structures andcontrol. The research question addressed in this thesis is: How are value networks of newspapers influenced by digital innovation? Addressing the research question, a multimethod approach was adopted to gain a broad understanding of how digital innovationinfluences value networks of newspapers. Drawing on digital innovation literature, the thesis presents a theoretical perspective with which to understand how digital innovation influences value networks. This perspective is instantiated as a model of value network configuration. The model emphasizes the multi-layered, dynamic, dialectic, and diametrical character of value networks in digital innovation. The model is offered as abasis and analytical tool to further explore value networks in digital innovation. This tool is useful for newspaper stakeholders when entering the digital era.

published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The purpose of the research was to look at how editors at Gannett, America's largest newspaper chain, perceive the role of journalism graphics and graphic artists in the newsroom.Nineteen editors from newspapers of various circulation sizes, participated from across the country. They sorted Q statements that covered areas related to journalism graphics as: use of color, balancing graphics with other content, graphics relationship with design, reader needs, and how graphics serve literacy.An analysis of the Q statements collected for this study showed two distinct factor types. They were identified by this researcher as the Communitarians and the Zealots.The Communitarians were characterized as trying to balance graphics with other aspects of journalism such as story, photo and design in an attempt to put the reader first. They were unwilling to elevate graphics to a necessity in presenting a story. The Communitarians saw graphics as one tool among many to conveyinformation.The Zealots saw graphics as an absolute necessity for any worthy journalistic endeavor. They saw graphics as the answer to attracting young readers, to serving a population with literacy issues, and to enhancing any work the newspaper is doing. The Zealots rejected statements that did not show graphics in the most positive way.Two camps emerged within the Gannett ranks regarding journalism graphics. The Zealots hold on to the allure of color and graphics made popular by USA Today in the 1980s and early 1990s. Communitarians acknowledged that graphics are an effective tool, but considered the practice of similar importance with other methods of conveying information. / Department of Journalism

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 2001. / Chair: Thomas L. Kennedy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 506-531)

Bibliography: p. 124. / Also issued as a B.S. thesis in the M.I.T. Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1974. / MIT OSP Project 70149. ANPA Grant.

Thesis (MEcon)--Stellenbosch University, 1990. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om 'n psigometriese toets= battery te ontwikkel wat gebruik kan word in die keuringsproses van advertensieverteenwoordigers. Uit literatuur het geblyk dat daar 'n teoretiese raamwerk bestaan naamlik 'n samevallende geldigheidsmodel waarvolgens die navorsings= projek uitgevoer kan word. Eienskappe word ook geldentifiseer wat kerunerkend van suksesvolle verteenwoordigers is. Genoegsame bewyse is gevind dat persoonlikheid, belangstelling en aanleg belangrike eienskappe van suksesvolle verteenwoordigers is. Die navorsings= probleem wat ontstaan is "of die sukses van advertensie= verteenwoordigers in die koerantsektor voorspel word deur middel van 'n keuringsbattery bestaande uit psigometriese toetse?\I Psigometriese toetse wat psigometriese eienskappe meet gebaseer op belangstelling, aanleg en persoonlikheidsmetings wat Nasionale Pers se suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers van mekaar onderskei, wat sodoende in die toekoms tydens die keuringsproses gebruik kan word om beter advertensieverteenwoordigers te keur. Om'n antwoord op die navorsingsprobleem te kry was dit nodig om die advertensieverteen= woordigers by die verskillende dagblaaie wat onderskeidelik as die suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle presteerders bestempel kan word aan die hand van die volgende kriteria te identifiseer: kornrnissieverdien, prestasiebeoordeling en 'n kornbinasie van die kriteria. Dit was ook nodig om die nie-kognitiewe eienskappe naamlik: persoonlikheid, belangstelling en aanleg te identifiseer wat die suksesvolle presteerders beskryf. Hierdie eienskappe word gemeet deur die volgende toetse: Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za die Sest.ienpersoonlikheids~faktorvraelys, Gestruktureerde Objektiewe Rorschachtoets, 19-Veld-Belangstellingsvraelys en die Senior Aanlegtoets. Hierdie meetinstrumente is geselekteer op grond van die waarskynlikheid dat hulle die eienskappe meet wat kenmerkend van suksesvolle presteerders is gebaseer op grond van inligting voortspruitend uit 'n posontleding en literatuurstudie. Die respondente was 77 advertensieverteenwoordigers wat binne die koerante-sektor van Nasionale Pers werksaarn is. Vervolgens is van kontrasgroepe gebruik gemaak om die eienskappe wat kenmerkend van die suksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers is mee te bepaal asook 'n sarnevallende geldigheidsmodel waardeur die korrelasies tussen advertensieverteenwoordigers se metings op die psigometriese toetse en aanslae op die prestasiebeoordelingsinstrument bereken is. Op grond van die kontrasgroepe se resultate is daar nie genoegsarne be\vyse gevind dat daar 'n beduidende onderskeid tussen suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers op grond van hul persoonlikheid-, belangstelling- en aanlegtellings gemaak kan word nie. Dit was egter moontlik om op grond van die resultate van 'n meervoudige regressie-ontleding 'n psigometriese toetsbattery saarn te stel vir die keuring van advertensieverteenwoordigers. Deur stapsgewyse regressie is 'n regressie-vergelyking wat 6 veranderlikes insluit verkry met 'n meervoudige korrelasie van 0,62 tussen die betrokke voorspellers en die prestasiebeoordelingmetings. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Deur die samestelling van 'n voorspellingsmodel is gevind dat die huidige keuringsmetode wat gebruik word met 19,34% verbeter kan word indien 'n psigometriese toetsbattery as een van die fases in die keuringsbattery ingesluit word. Sodoende slaag hierdie ondersoek in sy doel om 'n psigometriese toetsbattery daar te stel wat in die / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pu.t"poseof .this investigation is to develop a pscyhometric test battery which can be used in the selection process of advertising representatives. Literature showed that a theoretical framework exist namely a concurrent validation model upon which such a research project can be based. Typical characteristics of the successful representatives are also identified. Sufficient proof was found that personality, interest and ability are important characteristics of successful representatives. The research problem which excist is whether "the success of advertising representatives in the newspaper industry can be predicted by means of a test battery consisting of psychometric tests?" Psychometric tests which measures characteristics that differentiate between the successful and unsuccessful advertising representatives of Nasionale Pers based on their personality, interest and ability measures which in future can be used in the selection process to select successful advertising representatives. To answer the research problem it was necessary to identify the successful and unsuccessful achievers at the various newspapers based on the following criteria: commission earned, preformance evaluation and a combination of the named criteria. It was also necessary to identify the non-cognitive characteristics of the good achievers namely: personality, interest and ability. Four psychometric tests were used in the research project namely: the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Structured Objective Rorschachtest, 19-Field Interest Questionnaire and the Senior Aptitude Test. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za The measuring instruments were selected on the basis that they sufficiently measure the characteristics which are typical of successful representatives based on the job analysis and a study of the relevant literature. The respondents were 77 newspaper advertising representatives employed at Nasionale Pers. Contrast groups were used to determine the typical characteristics of a successful advertisement representative and a congruent validity model where by the correlations between the pscychometric tests and the scores of advertising representatives on the preformance appraisal instrument are determined. Based on the findings of the contrast groups no sufficient evidence could be found that a distinction can be drawn between the successful and unsuccessful advertising representatives based on their personality, interest and ability scores. By using a multiple regression analysis it was possible to construct a psychometric test battery that can be used in the selection of advertising representatives. By means of stepwise regression, a multipile equation including six variables were determined. A multipile correlation of 0,62 were found between the relevant predictors and the preformance appraisal scores. By making use of a prediction model it was found that the current selection procedure could be improved by 19,34% if the psychometric test battery is included as one of the phases in the selection battery. This study therefor succeeds in its purpose to develop a psychometric test battery which can be included in the selection process of advertising representatives.