User-Generated Content and Television News Stations

Abstract

This study uses a web-based survey of television news directors to examine perceptions of user-generated content (UGC) as well as newsroom policies regarding its use at stations across the United States. Using public sphere and gatekeeping as the theoretical guides, this research found that informal policies were more prevalent than formal policies and that stations shared similar vetting process for using UGC. Additional findings include type of content most used, submission formats, frequency of and main reasons for its use, and overall perceptions of these citizen-submitted materials. The study helps to advance our knowledge about newsroom management’s views of UGC, while providing insight about how television news stations are handling decisions and discussions regarding the use of this ever-growing type of content.

Keywords

user-generated content television news survey news directors newsroom policies gatekeeping

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