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MAI on the organizational level P art 1 – Theory

Session 7. MAI on the organizational level P art 1 – Theory By Huub Evers, Harmen Groenhart & Klaus Bichler. Photo: imago/ecomedia/robert fishman. Introduction. In the following two lectures we discuss media accountability on the level of the news organizations.

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MAI on the organizational level P art 1 – Theory

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  1. Session 7 • MAI on the organizational levelPart 1 – Theory • By Huub Evers, Harmen Groenhart & Klaus Bichler Photo: imago/ecomedia/robert fishman

  2. Introduction In the following two lectures we discuss media accountability on the level of the news organizations. In lecture A we sketch MA on the organizational level in theory. The two main questions in this course are: • What are typical news organizations’ instruments of media accountability (MAI)? • What’s the use of media accountability for news organizations? In lectureBwe illustrate MAI on the organizational level in practice. The two main questions in this course are: 1. How do journalists perceive MAI on the level of news organizations? 2. What are good examples of news organization MAI in practice? Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  3. Question 1: What is Media Accountability on the level of media organizations? Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  4. What isMedia Accountability on the level of media organizations? Media accountability means “any informal institution, both offline and online, performed by both media professionals and media users, which intends to monitor, comment on and criticize journalism and seeks to expose and debate problems of journalism.” (Fengler et al. 2011: 20) Related to news organizations we could define media accountability as “any instrument, both offline and online, performed by both media professionals and media users, which intends to monitor, comment on and criticize the editorial content of one specific newsroom and the behavior of its journalistic employees, in order to expose and debate problems of that newsroom”. As we will explain later on, the goal of media accountability may as well be formulated positively: “…in order to expose and debate problems of that newsroom, and to improve the relation between the newsroom and its news users.” Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  5. News organizations are accountable to four categories of stakeholders and criteria: • Accountability to the state - law - annual report (PSB broadcasters) - ethnic minorities policy • Accountability to the market - owners - advertisers - customers Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  6. 3. Professional accountability - quality standards - ethics guidelines - newsroom rules 4. Public accountability - dealing with complaints - correction boxes - editorial blogs - ombudsmen Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  7. What is media accountability on the level of media organizations? As mentioned in other sessions, media accountability has many manifestations. In this session we will concentrate on three categories that are meaningful for the news organization: • Internal criticism • Transparency of sources, processes and actors • Critical audience interaction Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  8. Instruments for internal criticism • Newsroom debates • Personal communication between managers and journalists • Ombudsmen and in-house critics Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  9. Instruments for transparency • Sender transparency: who is behind the news? ownership information editorial statute editorial code every journalist his own bio-page • Product transparency: what’s the value of specific journalistic products and statements? sidebar about editorial decisions background information and documents published online links to original sources and documents Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  10. Process transparency: what goes on behind the scene? blogs tweets Facebook correction box column/letter chief editor annual report Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  11. Ethics Codes • Newsroom codes or guidelines • Press Council codes • Codes of national union of journalists • Codes of International Federation of Journalists Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  12. Ombudsman See Session No. 5 & 6 • Ombudsman, readers’ representative, public editor • Why appoint an ombudsman? • Task, competence • Key question: independence Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  13. Instruments for critical audience interaction • social media • audience participation in newsroom production • letters to the editor • user comments online • correction button • media watchblogs (citizens) • ombudsman Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  14. Question 2: What is the use of Media Accountability on the level of media organizations? Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  15. What the use of Media Accountability on the level of media organizations? Media accountability can be seen as a phenomenon that improves journalism as well as newsroom performance by means of transparency and audience interaction. This ‘improvement’ can be defined both normatively and economically. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  16. Normative: Media accountability is a form of professional legitimization News organizations no longer have a monopoly on news as other stakeholders (like companies, politicians and public institutions) started to communicate directly with the public. News organizations are redefining their role in society, for instance by focussing more on analyzing the news and providing background information. By being transparent about motivations and goals and probing the audiences needs, news organization get more grip on their own professional legitimacy. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  17. Normative: media accountability is a prerequisite for the professional privilege Journalists and newsrooms operate in relative freedom, as their actions are protected by press freedom. Many authors frame this as an accountable freedom: along with the journalistic privilege comes the duty to be accountable. Jurisdiction considers whether specific actions had a journalistic intention serving the public interest. Having clear cut professional intentions, newsrooms can defend themselves juridically. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  18. Normative: ethical discourse is a responsibility in its own right Journalism provides a platform function in society, and ethical discussion about journalistic performance in general is part of that platform function. This ethical discussion may be between newsroom and audience as well as between members of the audience. “The aim of ethics is, in a word, accountability”(Glasser & Ettema 2008) Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  19. Why it pays to invest in Media Accountability? Media accountability, transparency and responsiveness can have a positive impact on the (economic) performance, the public image and the political independence of the media company. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  20. Why it pays to invest in Media Accountability? Media accountability as a USP • Media accountability instruments are a unique selling proposition in the increasing media competition. In a saturated market, where the target audience’s time and attention is a limited resource, innovative and effective media accountability instruments arouse attention and sharpen the profile of a media company. Media accountability as a flagship of quality journalism • Media accountability instruments are a distinctive feature between professional journalism and non-journalistic products like blogs or corporate publishing. Media accountability as a tool for audience loyalty • Media accountability instruments can be effective measures to increase and regain public trust. Interacting with the stakeholders and aiming at drawing a more direct relationship to the company’s target group can in the long run increase audience loyalty. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

  21. Reading assignment on news organization Media Accountability in theory Allen, D. S. 2008. “The Trouble with Transparency. The Challenge of Doing Journalism Ethics in a Surveillance Society.” Journalism Studies, 9: 323-340. García-Avilés, J.-A., J.-L. González-Esteban, A. Kaltenbrunner, M. Karmasin. 2011. “Self-regulation and the new challenges in journalism: Comparative study across European countries”. Revista Latina de communication social, 66: 2011. http://www.revistalatinacs.org/11/art/940_Elche/19_EstebanEN.html Groenhart, H. and J. Bardoel. 2012. “Conceiving the Transparency of Journalism: Moving towards a New Media Accountability Currency.” Studies in Communication Sciences, 12(1): 6-11. Meier, K. 2009. “Transparency in Journalism. Credibility and Trustworthiness in the Digital Future.” Paper presented at The Future of Journalism. London. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. 2008. The Media Self-Regulation Guidebook. http://www.osce.org/fom/31497 Singer, J. B. 2006. “The Socially Responsible Existentialist.” Journalism Studies, 7(1):2-18. Session 7 – MAI on the organizational level

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