This thesis empirically investigates alarm and prosocial words in online news headlines and the associated reads (the number of clicks), responses (including the number of likes, dislikes, and comments), and relays (the number of shares). I analyze over 170,000 online news headlines and mainly the associated number of reads and likes for each news story on an online news platform. Theoretically, based on the meta-level evolutionary theory－evolution by natural selection－I propose a middle-level evolutionary model of prosocial media effects from a nature-nurture interactive perspective. Then, I propose a specific evolutionary model that was derived from the proposed middle-level model, the human alarm system for sensational news, a psychological mechanism designed to detect and concern threatening news. I generate research questions from the specific model to test whether news headlines with alarm words attract more likes as a survival concern indirectly through an increased number of reads as a selection device, and whether prosocial words in headlines serve as a moderator. The results of a conditional indirect effect model showed that given that online readers click on (i.e, read) news headlines with alarm words, the fact that it has a prosocial word in the headlines leads readers more likely to "like" it. The empirical findings' theoretical and methodological contributions, research agenda, and examples of implications for future studies are discussed.

Thesis (M.A. (Journalism and Media Studies)) - Rhodes University, 2007 / "Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Arts."

Submitted by Aline Santiago da Silva Santos (aline.santos@fgv.br) on 2011-05-17T17:57:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CPDOC2011AdrianaNascimento.pdf: 1843300 bytes, checksum: b26db63d0773f64893a300c1c6cd597d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Renan Castro(renan.castro@fgv.br) on 2011-05-19T17:20:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 CPDOC2011AdrianaNascimento.pdf: 1843300 bytes, checksum: b26db63d0773f64893a300c1c6cd597d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-24T18:35:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CPDOC2011AdrianaNascimento.pdf: 1843300 bytes, checksum: b26db63d0773f64893a300c1c6cd597d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-29 / Featuring a historic showing the configuration of journalism as a professional activity and business, this study develops a discussion about the journalistic open to participation from individuals with no formation as a journalist to reach at a model of citizen journalism in which news are guided by the public interest and contribute to the strengthening of public visibility and access to information that promotes deliberation. Through analysis of the news site Eu-Repórter, it is observed that the exercise of citizen journalism model is not viable in a movement within a vehicle for communication of traditional media, as news goes through filters constructed by a market logic that foresees economic and political interests outside the media's role as a space for public debate broadened. / Apresentando um percurso histórico que mostra a configuração do jornalismo como atividade profissional e empresarial, o presente trabalho desenvolve uma reflexão sobre a produção jornalística aberta à participação do indivíduo sem formação de jornalista para se chegar a um modelo de jornalismo cidadão no qual as notícias são pautadas pelo interesse público e colaboram para o reforço da visibilidade pública e do acesso à informação que fomenta a deliberação. Através da análise do canal de jornalismo aberto Eu-Repórter, observa-se que o exercício do modelo proposto de jornalismo cidadão torna-se inviável em uma iniciativa ligada a um veículo de comunicação da mídia tradicional, porque a notícia passa por filtros construídos através de uma lógica de mercado que prevê interesses políticos e econômicos alheios a um papel da mídia como espaço de debate público ampliado.

Submitted by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2018-10-11T18:27:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 MPPJM - ANTONIO DA ROCHA E SILVA FILHO.pdf: 3594229 bytes, checksum: 1169b9d095e601992d9fb9ec8f8bf09a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2018-10-11T18:28:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 MPPJM - ANTONIO DA ROCHA E SILVA FILHO.pdf: 3594229 bytes, checksum: 1169b9d095e601992d9fb9ec8f8bf09a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Debora Cristina Bonfim Aquarone (deborabonfim@espm.br) on 2018-10-11T18:30:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 MPPJM - ANTONIO DA ROCHA E SILVA FILHO.pdf: 3594229 bytes, checksum: 1169b9d095e601992d9fb9ec8f8bf09a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-11T18:30:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MPPJM - ANTONIO DA ROCHA E SILVA FILHO.pdf: 3594229 bytes, checksum: 1169b9d095e601992d9fb9ec8f8bf09a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-29 / This research brings a study of the effects of digital communication in popular journalism practiced in Brazil. For that, Extra and Agora São Paulo newspapers were selected. These newspapers are published by two of the largest communication groups in the country (Globo and Folha), were born in print and represent the model of popular journalism based on service inaugurated in the later years 1990. Based on the concepts of popular journalism proposed by Márcia Franz Amaral and on-line journalism presented by Ramón Salaverría and João Canavilhas, the study initially discusses the importance of popular newspapers, their characteristics, the sensationalism that permeates the segment and the evolution of digital communication. The work brings an analysis of the homepages and social media Facebook and Twitter of the two newspapers, based on tools proposed by Marcos Palacios, and presents interviews with editors of the two media outlets to understand the editorial choices in the online environment and to know the impacts of the digital communication in the work of professionals in popular journalism. The results of the research indicate that Extra is at a more advanced stage of online journalism and has been using digital tools for journalistic production for a longer period of time. It offers multimedia and interactive content for its readers and has intense action in social networks. Agora has a production still focused on the printed platform and begins to crawl in the digital world. It presents a totally static site and its presence in social media is small. The two newspapers, however, keep present in the online medium the main news values of popular service journalism: entertainment, proximity and utility. The two vehicles are undergoing major transformation periods: Extra newsroom has been unified with O Globo newspaper, and Agora is preparing to launch a totally redesigned new website and to expand its activities in social media. The transformations bring new impacts to the two vehicles, which currently use different strategies in the digital environment. This work presents the performance of Extra and Agora in the online medium so far and the scenarios that each one lives in the moment, which should mean new modifications in each of them. / Esta pesquisa traz um estudo dos efeitos da comunicação digital no jornalismo popular praticado no Brasil. Para tanto foram escolhidos os jornais Extra e Agora São Paulo, publicações do segmento editadas por dois dos maiores grupos de comunicação do país (Globo e Folha), nascidos no meio impresso e que representam o modelo de jornalismo popular de serviços inaugurado no final dos anos 1990. A partir dos conceitos de jornalismo popular propostos por Márcia Franz Amaral e de jornalismo on-line apresentados por Ramón Salaverría e João Canavilhas, o trabalho faz inicialmente uma discussão sobre a importância dos jornais populares, suas características, o sensacionalismo que permeia o segmento e a evolução da comunicação digital. O trabalho traz uma análise das homepages e das redes sociais Facebook e Twitter dos dois jornais, com base em ferramentas propostas por Marcos Palacios, e apresenta entrevistas com editores dos dois veículos de comunicação para compreender as escolhas editoriais no meio on-line e conhecer os impactos da comunicação digital na atuação dos profissionais no jornalismo popular. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que o Extra está em estágio mais avançado do jornalismo on-line e emprega há mais tempo e com mais propriedade ferramentas digitais para a produção jornalística. Oferece conteúdo multimídia e interativo para seus leitores e tem intensa atuação nas redes sociais. O Agora tem uma produção ainda voltada para a plataforma impressa e começa a engatinhar no mundo digital. Apresenta um site totalmente estático e sua presença nas redes sociais é pequena. Os dois jornais, no entanto, mantêm presentes no meio on-line os principais valores-notícia do jornalismo popular de serviços: entretenimento, proximidade e utilidade. Os dois veículos passam por períodos de transformação importantes: o Extra teve sua redação unificada com a do jornal O Globo, e o Agora se prepara para lançar um novo site totalmente reformulado e ampliar sua atuação nas redes sociais. As transformações trazem novos impactos aos dois veículos, que neste momento usam estratégias distintas no meio digital. Este trabalho apresenta a atuação de Extra e Agora no meio on-line até aqui e os cenários que cada um vive no momento, o que deverá significar novas modificações em cada um deles.

La ricerca indaga le dinamiche e le tendenze evolutive che portano i siti dei quotidiani a definire un'offerta informativa differente rispetto alle logiche appartenenti alla dimensione tradizionale del giornale cartaceo, all'interno di un quadro teorico che superi il determinismo tecnologico e abbracci invece la prospettiva del social landscape. Le strategie e le dinamiche di evoluzione e definizione dei quotidiani online sono studiate con riferimento ai social media, identificati come attori emergenti della comunicazione della rete, orientati ad accogliere le istanze partecipative di un cittadino sempre più interessato a condividere con gli altri utenti della rete le notizie e le attività che portano alla loro definizione. La ricerca empirica, volta a individuare la risposta dei quotidiani online italiani nei confronti dei formati e delle pratiche comunicative messe in atto dai social media, rileva come gli editori si dimostrino nel complesso ancorati ai modelli tradizionali del giornalismo, dove le redazioni mantengono uno stretto controllo sull'informazione diffusa al pubblico e sulla definizione dell'agenda. / The research investigates the dynamics and the evolution trends which lead the websites of newspapers to shape an informative offer different compared with the logics belonging to the traditional newspapers. A theoretic frame was designed in order to overcome the technological determinism and embrace, on the other side, the social landscape perspective. The strategies and the dynamics of the online newspapers' evolution and definition have been studied with reference to the social media, identified as emerging actors in the online world, where the citizen is able to activate his strong desire of participation and to share with the other online users the news, as well as the activities which bring to the news' definition. The empiric research, aimed at detecting the Italian online newspapers' answer to the formats and the practices of communications put to use by social media, shows how the publishers are, on the whole, tied to traditional models of journalism, where the editorial unit keeps a strong control on the information spread to the public and on the agenda setting.