Research Review: Online Journalism - a report on current and continuing research and major questions in the international discussion

Abstract

This report summarizes major avenues of research about online journalism, defined as journalism activities on and through the Internet and concerned with the use of such journalism products and services. Seven trajectories or tracks of research about online journalism are identified: market analyses, product analyses, user studies, explorations of occupational changes, quality assessments, macro studies and experimental projects. Traditional approaches in the realm of public research are hardly compatible with the fast-evolving new technology. Most important research projects in the field are privately funded, not publicly accessible and tend to be market-driven. Some interesting new projects are on their way, but research about online journalism is only just beginning.