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Nordicom Review 28 (2007) 2, pp. 51-61
Researching Media Convergence
and Crossmedia News Production
Mapping the Field
IVAR JOHN ERDAL
Abstract
Digitization of production has facilitated changes in the organization and practices of
journalism. Technological convergence, media convergence and organizational convergence
have helped change the way in which news is made.
A substantial amount of research has been done on news production in general, and
television news in particular. However, little research has been done specifically on the
production context in a digital, integrated broadcasting environment, taking into account
new technology and its relationship to changes in institutional context, production processes
and the resulting texts.
The present article discusses some challenges that face research into media organization,
challenges that are a result of these developments. The discussion is structured
around two main developments: changing professional practices and genre development.
The article will also look at where this line of research fits into the larger picture of media
studies, and discuss the relationship to existing research in the field.
Key Words: convergence, crossmedia, news production, journalism, media organizations,
broadcasting, methodology