Place-Based Knowledge in the
21st Century:
The Creation of Spatial Journalism
Amy Schmitz Weiss, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Journalism and Media Studies
San Diego State University
May 23, 2014
ICA 2014 Seattle, Washington
Theories of Journalism in a Digital Age Panel

Connecting Information and
Geographic Space
• We are at the
intersection today of
where information
and geographic
space can be
connected to a
concept called place-
based knowledge
(Fisher 2012)

What does location mean today?
• Digital technologies now allow
news organizations to bring the
news closer to the consumer
than ever before – in the palm
of their hand via the
smartphone or tablet.
• Consumers are actively using
location-based services for
activities ranging from social
networking to play (Sutko and de
Souza e Silva 2011).
• Idea of location now takes on a
different connotation for the
individual in this digital era.

Place-based Knowledge and
Spatial Phenomena
• Fisher states that place-based knowledge can entail the use of
Geographical Information Systems
– “to embed all the knowledge relevant to a place in the myriad layers of
information about it. And as we scroll over a place, we can select the
pertinent layers and begin to see the relationships among disciplines
and the connections among data” (2012, 6).
• Arranging knowledge today through spatial phenomena
• Spatial phenomena goes deeper than just a street address or
block - the larger meaning of the spaces and places around us that
hold significant meaning.
• Spatiality and place-based knowledge: new construction of
meaning in the community – through spatial journalism (Schmitz
Weiss, 2014)

What is Spatial Journalism?
Spatial journalism (Schmitz Weiss, 2014) is an
emergent kind of journalism that incorporates a
place, space, and/or location
(physical, augmented and virtual) into the
process and practice of journalism.

Spatial Journalism:
Happening Now and in the Future
• Everyblock’s death and
resurrection
• Augmented reality mobile apps
• CBC Hamilton – geo-located
news and information
• NY Times Leaked report (2014) –
proposal of the use of geo-
located information as
structured data to categorize
and organize news content
• inewsource prototype-
geo-located news and
information

Four Research Domains:
Spatial Journalism
Journalism studies Locative media
Network theory Mobile technology
Spaces/places have greater meaning by how
the journalist maps the community – news
construction/production
location-based
media: virtual
& real - reflect
current
communication
phenomena
New logic of
understanding
location within the
network (nodes
and hubs tied to
their spatial
organization)
Locative media
storytelling in
different media
forms (e.g. art,
video, audio,
etc.) tied to
physical and
virtual space

Four Research Domains and
Spatial Journalism
• Four research domains bridge spatial phenomena and place-based
knowledge – to connect to spatial journalism
Spatial Journalism

Spatial Journalism Components
• Spatial journalism requires the following
components:
– Information must be communicated across one or
several channels (e.g. digital, mobile, etc.) to a group
or public;
– Information must be connected to its social meaning
via a place, space and/or location
(physical, augmented, virtual); and
– Information must be considered a form of journalism
(e.g. text
articles, websites, videos, graphics, multimedia
pieces, blog posts, broadcasts/programs, print
publications, tablet magazines, etc.).

Layers of Inquiry in Spatial Journalism
Practice/Form
• News editorial decisions
• Journalistic routines
• Creation, production, curation, and aggregation of news content
Content/Production/Creation
• News consumption patterns/behaviors
• News content analysis - layers of proximity/place
• News story layers by attribution, facts, opinion, media type, and
data
• Mobile device use of location-based information and news

Conclusion:
Power of Location and Information
• The power of location and information through the
intersection of mobile technologies, journalism and
location-based services - is having a big impact on
communication phenomena today.
• Location and geography can have significance in the
democratic function of journalism (Mersey, 2009).
• Location can communicate forms of freedom as well
as inequalities in the coverage of communities

Conclusion: Spatial Journalism
• Spatial journalism (Schmitz Weiss, 2014) offers a lens to examine
how the journalism profession, the practice and the news
consumer’s habits are being shaped in the digital media landscape
• Spatial journalism can also identify the holes, gaps, and lack of
attention given to communities that are underrepresented or not
represented at all.
• As digital and mobile technologies become more pervasive, we
must be cognizant of the power of such tools (Google Maps,
Google Places, etc.) and how we are subject to specific
interpretations of the daily space around us.
• As scholars, we have an obligation to study this crucial moment in
the Digital Era.

THANK YOU! ANY QUESTIONS?
aschmitz@mail.sdsu.edu
@digitalamysw
digitalamy.com