Churnalism

• originally devised by BBC journalist Waseem Zakir to describe the trend where journalists were uncritically 'churning' out articles based on second-hand news agency reports + pre-packaged material from press releases and other resources rather than digging out news for themselves

  • done to save time and money, using second-hand information often provided by press releases and spin doctors
• Davis 2008


  found that 80% of stories in The Times, The Guardian, Independent, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail where wholly, mainly or partially constructed from second-hand material

  only 12% of stories were generated by reported

  he found this originated from wire agencies like the Press Association and public relations activity which was promoting some commercial or political interest
• Philips 2010


  reporters have increasingly been asked to rewrite stories that have appeared in other newspapers or websites and to lift quotes without attributing them
• new media raises the possibility that professional journalists might lift quotes from bloggers who aren't as constrained by the media industry standards and may derive their information from unverified sources, even from rumours circulating on social media

  owners are controlling the media as they are telling the journalists to use second-hand information, journalists have no choice but to listen due to the worry about losing their jobs
• what causes the rise of churnalism

  • cost-cutting
  • cheaper for news companies to have journalists use pre-packaged material instead of critical, investigative research
  • political parties and public relations companies are more likely to provide material for free as they're promoting the views of the part or of the company who paid for the press-releases to be written
  • time pressure
  • rapid 24-hour news - journalists may not have the time to do their own reporting or fact check before deadlines
• consequences of churnalism

  • narrowing of the news agenda
  • fewer original sources providing news to a wider range of newspapers
  • less choice for consumers
  • increase in bias
  • towards companies who have the time and money available to provide press releases
  • supports the instrumental marxist view of the media - media used as a tool for ideas, beliefs + behaviours to be manipulated for the benefits of the bourgeoisie
  • decrease in the accuracy of news reporting
  • journalists aren't checking their facts due to lack of time