This document summarizes a study on the implementation of new technologies in television news organizations in Israel. The study examined how journalists at Channel 2 and Channel 10 news desks perceive new technologies and how it affects their work. It used interviews to understand how journalists view the nature of technology, their profession, and their organizations' technology strategies. The findings show journalists believe new technologies have value but adherence to traditional broadcast models limits their use. Technologies are also only adopted if an organization believes it can generate profit. In general, journalists feel technologies may facilitate changes but current conceptions of television journalism constrain full utilization.

1. The “Status” of News –
Implementation of Networked Technologies in
Television News Organizations
Dr. Tamar Ashuri
Tel-Aviv University, ISRAEL
Dr. Atara Frenkel-Faran
Sapir Academic College, ISRAEL

2. The implementation of new
technologies in news organizations
is partial and sluggish
Studies on journalism

3. Reasons for the limited usage of new
networked technologies in news
organizations in Israel
[News desks of Channel 2 and 10]
Identify the elements that enable and
constrain the implementation of innovative
technologies in these news organizations
Research Objectives

4. ‘Technological frames’
“The core set of assumptions, expectations and
knowledge of technology collectively held by a
group or community.”
Substantial insights into how technologies are
developed in organizations and how people
interact with changes in their work arenas can be
gained by examining key actors' notions of
technology
Research Framework

5. 1
•The nature of technology
2
•Technology Strategy
3
•Technology in use
Model – Frame Domains

6. 4
•The nature of
the profession
Model – Theoretical Addition

7. Research Questions
BUT
the reasons for the actual (partial and
sluggish) use of technologies by
journalists
NOT
whether and how networked
technologies facilitate transformations
in the journalistic environment

8. How do journalists in a given news
organization understand the
technologies they use and their
functionality?
Research Question - 1

9. How do journalists perceive their
journalistic profession and the
contribution of the emerging new
technologies to their work?
Research Question - 2

10. How do journalists explain their
organizations’ acquisition of a specific
networked technology, how do they
understand the use of this
technology, and the likely or actual
conditions and consequences
associated with such use?
Research Question - 3

11. Semi-structured interviews
Elite producers/editors/journalists
Israeli television news desks –
Channel 2 and Channel 10
During the summer and fall of 2011
Research Methodology

12. Marketing
Source
Real-time field testimony
Home television viewers
Findings

13. Limited use
Importance
recognition
Conclusions

14. The Ethical Aspect
The Social Aspect
The Economic Aspect
Conclusions

15. “ The chief problem with the Internet in
general is the lack of hierarchy, that I
perceive as a substantial obstacle to total,
meaningful transition from traditional to
online media.
People have to receive a fuller picture …
What they want is a summary … People
don’t really want to follow events all the
time and are very pleased to have someone
inform them and give them a broader and
rounder picture of the situation.”
Conclusions – The Ethical Aspect

16. “ ‘People, whatever happens, we’re here and
we’ll also be here tomorrow at eight.’ No
matter how critical the events may be, no
disaster is big enough to keep us from being
here tomorrow. I [the viewer] went through
the worst things in life together with him
[the presenter] and we persevered. That’s
what’s so nice. As we all go our separate
ways, this place is the zero point – not just
for the news but even more importantly for
the chaos, for the home, for society.”
Conclusions – The Social Aspect

17. Journalists believe that as long as their
organization is unable to derive profit
from the new technologies, it will not
invest significant resources in them
Conclusions – The Economic Aspect

18. Adherence to traditional conceptions
of broadcast journalism is what limits
full use of networked technologies
General Conclusion

19. The “Status” of News –
Implementation of Networked Technologies in
Television News Organizations
Dr. Tamar Ashuri
tashuri@post.tau.ac.il
Dr. Atara Frenkel-Faran
ataraf@gmail.com