Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The publication of news websites mushroomed since the establishment of the World
Wide Web, but their viability and/or profitability still tend to pose a problem. This
study approaches the question from the viewpoint of the niche theory and gratification
and investigates the advantages and disadvantages of publishing news on the Internet,
as well as possible elements of news-website business models. The latter comprises
firstly, costs such as labour, content, production, marketing and distribution, and
secondly possible income sources. It also compares a number of different business
models. It found, inter alia, that a greater variety on the broader news menu, as well
as the development of cost-effective ways to utilise the unique features of the Internet
in the presentation of news will be fundamental to the eventual success of news
websites. A generally acceptable norm for the measurement and auditing of traffic to
news websites will be crucial in the optimal utilisation of the potential advertisingsales
income. The study concludes that it is doubtful whether news websites on their
own will ever succeed as media enterprises. In most cases news websites will
probably only exist as a minor component of websites deriving their income from a
variety of other sources. However, technological innovation may come up with new
possibilities that may revolutionise the e-news industry in such a way that it may
become profitable on its own. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die publikasie van nuuswebwerwe het soos ʼn paddastoel opgeskiet sedert die
daarstelling van die Wêreldwye Web, maar die lewensvatbaarheid en/of
winsgewendheid van sulke webwerwe blyk steeds ʼn probleem te wees. Hierdie studie
benader die vraagstuk uit die oogpunt van die nisteorie en voldoening, en ondersoek
die voor- en nadele van nuuspublikasie op die Internet, sowel as die faktore waaruit
bedryfsmodelle vir nuuswebwerwe saamgestel kan word. Die laasgenoemde omvat
eendersyds koste, soos arbeid, inhoud, produksie, bemarking en verspreiding; en
andersyds die moontlike inkomstebronne. Dit vergelyk ook ʼn aantal verskillende
bedryfsmodelle. Die bevindings sluit in dat ʼn groter verskeidenheid op die breër
nuusspyskaart sowel as die vind van kostedoeltreffende maniere om die unieke
eienskappe van die Internet ten volle in die aanbieding van die nuus te benut,
onderliggend tot die uiteindelike sukses van nuuswebwerwe sal wees. ʼn Algemeen
aanvaarbare norm vir die meting en ouditering van die verkeer na nuuswebwerwe sal
deurslaggewend wees in die optimale benutting van die potensiële inkomste uit
advertensieverkope. Die studie kom tot die slotsom dat daar twyfel bestaan of
nuuswebwerwe as sulks op die lang duur as onafhanklike media-ondernemings sal
slaag. In die meeste gevalle sal nuuswebwerwe waarskynlik hoofsaaklik net
voortbestaan as ʼn ondergeskikte komponent van webwerwe wat hul verdienste uit ʼn
verskeidenheid van ander bronne put. Tegnologiese vernuwing kan egter nuwe
moontlikhede daar stel wat ʼn ommekeer in die winsgewendheid van die e-nuusbedryf
teweeg kan bring.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17245 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Ebersohn, Piet |
| Contributors | Rabe, Lizette, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 186 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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