Dumbing down or shaping up?

Abstract

This article considers the thesis that, in western liberal societies, news values, news agenda and standards of journalism have deteriorated significantly over recent decades. It considers in particular those accounts which prioritize the digital-electronic communication and information technologies in explanations of the perceived deterioration. Evidence is drawn from the news-making activities of three UK broadcasters, namely, the BBC, ITN and Yorkshire Television, to demonstrate technological applications which differ both in degree and in kind. It is argued that these differences indicate the need to qualify substantially any suggestion of technological determinism. Rather, it is argued, technological innovation should be viewed as mediated by the political–institutional role allocated to these organizations, their economic and organizational characteristics and their corporate aims with regard to survival and growth. Consideration is given to the new media technologies as they associate with the work organization and requirements made of television journalists. Organizational change, underpinned by technological developments, towards multi skilling, multi-media news production and the pursuit of novel news markets is seen to convey a potential to compromise journalistic performance. But responsibility for any compromise is, it is argued, to be borne by political and corporate executives, not by technology.