Activity

The Digital News Initiative (DNI) is a European organisation established by Google to ‘support high quality journalism through innovation and technology’. It encompasses an “innovation fund” worth Euros 15m, that in the next coming year issued grants to 461 different projects in 38 countries across Europe. This is a huge boost for the new media industry in these trying times. In agency ‘ve had a bad few years financially and people are looking for new opportunities and one of the places they are likely to look is from the press and media companies who have suffered financially and in some cases even closed.

This European funded project is a part of the wider European media innovation strategy, also known as the European Journalism Platform. This policy is partly designed to fill the gap left by the closing of the then Media UK. Although the closure was not directly due to the Digital news initiative, there are many factors that work together to make European journalism weak. In this article we look at some of the challenges it faces in adapting to the digital age.

Digital innovation in the news means moving beyond traditional reporting, in order to capture the real stories behind the events and people that shape and develop society. But it’s not easy and in some ways it’s getting harder. Publishers are resisting the introduction of digital news altogether, arguing that the shift will affect the pay-outs to publishers. Even though some publishers are now moving to online distribution, most still rely on print for their content. Similarly, there are many established news outlets that have failed to embrace digital news initiatives. There are also some significant challenges for those involved in European journalism.

A big part of the Digital news Initiative’s brief has been assisting news organisations in developing online and mobile applications. The Working Group has published a series of reports highlighting the benefits of the innovation for publishers, alongside suggestions and comments from industry experts. However, progress has been slow. In its current form, the working group is looking at how the initiative can improve Europe’s position in the global rankings for both overall and local content.

As well as examining the impact of digital news, the working group has looked at the impact that this type of innovation will have on the journalism industry in general. It is estimated that up to nine new regional newspapers could come into existence as a direct result of the DNI. However, the key drivers behind this are unclear. The creation of new outlets could lead to greater regional diversity but could also lead to a move away from specialist style journalism. In effect, it is uncertain whether the creation of a new audience for journalism is one of the objectives of the Innovation for the European Journalism Association (IDA).

Another challenge facing the European Journalism Initiative relates to the impact of the initiative on the editorial board and its ability to provide independent advice to publishers on their specific business interests. There is concern that some member newspapers may feel compelled to take a particular stance on issues where their commercial interests come into conflict with the wider objectives of digital innovation. For example, some publishers may be worried that press freedom is being threatened by the rise of digital technology. In effect, they may be unwilling to report on the implications of the DNI model for press freedom.

Concerns have also been expressed by news publishers about the impact of the DNI on the industry itself. The creation of new outlets could lead to a decline in business and investment in the region, threatening the continued growth of the national media. Digital newsrooms in some areas of the country are already suffering at the hands of the global digital news industry, which has led to a number of closures. In order to keep their markets, publishers may find themselves forced to cut back on reporting on topics related to their businesses.

One of the objectives of the European Journalism Initiative was to ensure that the development of new media was guided by an interest in information and transparency. Digital newsrooms and news publishing have responded positively to this focus. Many publishers are enthusiastic about the possibility of sharing investigative stories and information, while others are cautious about the impact it could have on their business models. Ultimately, the success or failure of the Digital News Initiative in Europe will depend largely on whether digital newsrooms can demonstrate that they can operate as competent intermediaries between the public and the information they want to know.