The document discusses the pros and cons of digital newsrooms. Some of the pros are that digital news is accessible 24/7 on updated platforms like websites and mobile apps. It allows for niche online newsrooms and the use of additional multimedia like videos. However, some cons are that digital news relies heavily on advertisements for revenue and stories are not always accurate. It can also be expensive to develop new digital technologies and train employees. Privacy is also a new concern for people in the digital space.

1. Pro’s and Con’s of the Digital
Newsroom
Liam Senior

2. The Digital Newsroom
• “Digital platforms fundamentally change the
customer experience in ways that are both
advantageous and harmful for news
organizations’ economics.”
• The Story So Far: What We Know About the
Business of Digital Journalism. By Bill
Grueskin, Ava Seave, Lucas Grave. Columbia
University Press, 1 Jun 2011

3. Pro’s
• Get news 24 hours a day, its constantly being updated,Flexible
and speedy, easy to access
• Sites such as twitter let you follow whoever you like, meaning
you can see everything they post, this can range from
celebrities to news channels, and certain companies
• Plenty of links that expand on the original story and take
readers elsewhere broadening their knowledge and taking
them further afield
• Niche in markets for online newsrooms that are specific to the
web.
• Also certain newsrooms have you-tube channels, such as sky
news

4. Cont.
• It is widely accessible as most people have mobile phones
and are able to access the internet on a regular basis-
mobile internet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-
14731757
• It’s a way of making money for Organizations through
adverts “ad rates are three to five times what regular
display ads bring.” they “hope that these new kinds of
digital journalism will enhance companies’ earnings: the
fear is that if they don’t adapt, they will lose audiences’
attention and the revenue it brings.” Page 55.
• Example of social networking being used for business
purpose is linkedin
• Low costs

5. Cons
• Disadvantages to social networking: 7 deadly disadvantages
of social media http://www.deaddinosaur.co.uk/social-
media/the-seven-deadly-disadvantages-of-social-media/
• Steve Harbula editor of examiner.com: “readers have a
large appetite but a short attention span.” Which means
writers and creators have less space and have to grab the
potential reader’s attention in the headline, sub-headline
and first two sentences to have a realistic chance of
keeping them on the page, the use of links is very
important. Page 16 of the story so far:
• Highly reliant on adverts to generate income- evidence
• Stories/ sources are not always accurate- evidence

6. Cont
• May cause conflict between print and online
• Expensive- new research and technologies.
Also software and employee training will take
time and cost money.
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-
disadvantages-technological-environment-
marketing-product-21853.html
• New real privacy for example Ashley Cole, Jack
Wilshere

7. Advantages of Social Networking
• “Humans need (to connect): to connect is a basic
human need. According to Maslow’s need
hierarchy, social needs to play a vital part.”
• “To share knowledge and expertise.” “It’s very
helpful for people who need that expertise for
various purposes.”- gather news stories- page 9
• Builds credibility- page 11
• Good range of contacts which enables connection

8. Disadvantages of Social Networking
• Time consuming while not giving much in
return- page 9
• Not always productive: used to gain
knowledge and expertise but many-a-time
become a platform for fun and loses its
productivity.
• Scams and harassment- spam and virus’- page
11