Einar Thorsen

Professor of Journalism and Communication at Bournemouth University

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Online Reporting of Elections – call for papers

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Journal of Journalism PracticeJOURNALISM PRACTICE
SPECIAL ISSUE CALL FOR PAPERS

Guest editor: Einar Thorsen

Elections represent a great spectacle of journalism and are therefore ideally suited to reflect upon the current and future state of journalism practice in relation to online political news and communication.

Online news reporting in its various guises is now an essential part of online political journalism. Recent examples range from political blogging and Youtube debates during the 2008 US presidential election, through the use of Twitter to report and mobilise civic uprising in the aftermath of the 2009 Iranian and Moldovan elections, to the normalising of online news during the 2010 UK general election.

Newspapers and broadcasters now invest heavily in election micro-websites. Journalists increasingly use Twitter and Facebook for breaking news or unconfirmed rumours, and also as a valuable source of ‘public sentiment’ and insight into the political process. Ordinary citizens, for their part, use social media to hold politicians and mainstream media to account.

This special edition of Journalism Practice will be an opportunity to discuss the role of online news reporting during national elections and referendums. It will provide a forum for both practitioners and academics to discuss emerging and established forms and practices of online journalism.

Comparative research is of particular interest to this special edition – either different national contexts, or different news practices within the same national context.

Suggested areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

  • How does online election reporting compare across different national contexts?
  • Has online journalism lived up to expectations during elections?
  • How has the Internet changed the working practices of political journalists?
  • How does online reporting of elections compare to print and broadcasting?
  • What role have citizen journalists had in the media landscape during elections?
  • How have Twitter and Facebook influenced the way journalists connect with audiences?
  • How do journalists use social media, blogs and UGC as election news sources?
  • What are the strengths and limitations of live blogging?
  • How have the features of online news impacted on election campaigns?
  • How have news organisations facilitated online public debates and comment?
  • How has online journalism helped inform electorates?

Prospective authors should email abstracts of 500 words to Einar Thorsen (ethorsen@bournemouth.ac.uk). Papers will then be invited and subject to peer review.

  • Deadline for submission of abstracts: 10 September 2010
  • Deadline for submission of articles for review: 1 December 2010
  • Final revised papers due: 31 March 2011 (following peer review)
  • Publication: end of 2011/early 2012

If you have any questions or want to discuss an idea for the special issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

PDF version of CfP available on Routledge website.

Postponed:
Online Reporting of the 2010 UK Election Symposium

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Whilst the event has attracted significant attention, the majority of interested parties were unable to make the original date. In the interest of making the event inclusive and to incorporate as many perspectives as possible, we have decided to postpone it until November / December 2010.

We will publish an updated schedule in due course.

Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused for this. We do hope that you may be able to join us at the later date instead.
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Organised by the Centre for Journalism and Communication Research
The Media School, Bournemouth University

Friday 25th June, 2010 –> postponed

This symposium will be an opportunity to discuss and reflect upon the role of online news reporting during the May 2010 UK General Election. It will provide a forum for academics, researchers, journalists and bloggers to discuss emerging and established forms and practices of online election news. We aim to provide a lively discussion forum evolving around pertinent issues arising from the election campaign and aftermath.
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Paid election-coverage policy a “breach of editorial independence”. – Editors Weblog

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Local Florida weekly Conch Color is to charge City Commission election candidates for campaign coverage in their weekly publication.

Deirdre Macnab, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida pointed out that a ‘pay to play’ approach will not only leave some of the less wealthy candidates out of the race (even more so in light of the current economic climate), but will also leave the public in the dark as to who actually is the best candidate for the job.

Despite candidate Marquardt’s protestations for Oosterhoudt to reconsider, reminding the publisher that ‘freedom of the press is a guaranteed right under the Constitution’, Oosterhoudt wrote that ‘freedom of the press does not ensure campaign coverage, just a level playing field. And you have to pay to play.’

Although Oosterhoudt told The Citizen that he will publish a photo that shows all candidates, without giving preference to those who advertise, it has done little to calm the flames of outrage from parties and fundraises – who attribute the reality of the situation to little more that the pragmatics of a capitalist system at work.”

Via:

Paid election-coverage policy a “breach of editorial independence”. – Editors Weblog