Assessing quality in online journalism: final report 2016-2017

Abstract

THIS REPORT IS A COMPILATION of the findings and conclusions of the final paper produced by the students of the Analyzing Digital Journalism, an online course held at the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) during the first term (October-December) of the academic year 2016-2017. The students were proposed, individually or in couples, to analyze one or several online media, applying the several concepts studied during the course and referring to the quality of online information flow, accordingly to several aspects that will we later on explained in the introduction of this volume. The students were asked to choose the media to analyze, so overwhelmingly the Catalan ones are represented in this study, since most of the students were, precisely, Catalan. However, many other online media all over the world are also represented in this study.

The findings have been ordered, typologised and summarised according to the categories described in the first part of this volume, which follow, on their turn, the explanations contained in the lessons explained during the first part of the course. Concepts are taken from the bibliography referred at the end of the first part. The information provided by the students, applying - sometimes adapting - the methods and templates provided by the consultor and compilator of this volume has been treated using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). Sources and authors of the individual papers from whom the different passages are taken and put in relation with others corresponding to the same categories and concepts are mentioned. Passages in Catalan and Spanish languages have been translated into English.

The volume is intended to be the final result, to be shared amongst all the participants, of the course. Opinions remain with individual authors and are not o be necesarily considered assumed collectively by the group.