(Left) Veronika Jermanova, Communications Intern at EMMA/the Future Media Lab..
In the most recent edition of our bi-weekly news roundup, Veronika Jermanova shares the news that caught her eye in the past two weeks. The news round-up is a way for the Future Media Lab. team and members of the Future Media Lab. network to share articles about innovations and developments in the media sector, including references to relevant media policy debates.
Here are Veronika’s choices for this week:
1) The big news out of Brussels recently has clearly been the European Commission’s presentation of its Digital Single Market Strategy on Wednesday, 6 May. This document sets up 16 initiatives underpinned by three pillars that attempts to unify Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape to create a borderless European market for online goods and services. The strategy tackles a number of issues that are crucial for Europe’s creative industries, such as copyright, VAT, illegal content, and privacy. The goal of the Commission is to:
- Enable better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe;
- Create the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish;
- Maximise the growth potential
2) Google recently announced a new partnership with several European publishers, including Les Echos; Die Zeit; NRC Media, El Pais, La Stampa; and the Financial Times, whose aim is to support innovation in journalism and product development in Europe. The new Digital News Initiative is an interesting change in strategy for Google, as previously it claimed it was not in the news business but rather just a platform through which news moves. Google announced that one of reasons why it initiated this move was due to constant regulatory pressure from publishers. It will be interesting to see how this new initiative will develop.
3) As technology advances and consumer behaviours change the boundaries defining journalism and journalists change as well. These shifting boundaries of journalism are examined in a new book by a group of academics, which poses such questions as who defines the boundaries around journalism, where are boundaries drawn, and with what consequences. In one of the chapters, the authors define journalism by contesting ethical norms, rules of practice and expectation of autonomy. The chapters also identify other dimensions of journalism such as entrepreneurial journalism or native advertising.
4) In addition to changing boundaries, journalism also has to adapt to new technology challenges. Every story now has to be readable on mobile devices, which has started a revolution in not only content parameters but also in technology itself. However, new platforms may also possess certain challenges for journalists, who need to adapt their skills in order to keep content attractive for audience. Studies show that the majority of readers spend their time reading only the first few paragraphs of an article. Therefore time metrics can be perceived as a key measurement for success. Here are some tips how to increase time spent over an article.
5) Following successful launches in the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, Netflix confirmed it will launch their services in Spain in autumn 2015. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, has always been straightforward about his goal to make Netflix successful on global scale, and while he has been very successful so far in Europe, particular member states of the EU like Spain and Italy might pose a challenge. In the past Netflix had to adapt its’ marketing strategy to several local competitors in France and UK), but will it be able to face other obstructions in face of piracy? Before entering market in Spain, Netflix main challenge has been to overcome local competitors, but it would also have to beat piracy.
6) Another partnership of newspaper publishers and Silicon Valley giant has been launched this week. Since Wednesday 13 May, content of New York Times is available directly through Facebook feeds. It was also mentioned that later other companies might join such a partnership, for instance Buzzfeed, NBC News and NatGeo. Facebook’s aim is to make newspapers content more available for public and more convenient for mobile device use through their new tool, “Instant Articles”.
7) The digital world is dynamically evolving ,which has had a huge impact on consumer behaviours. Today, consumers prefer fast applications that save them time and enable them to simultaneously exert their individualism and reaffirm their connection to society. In other words, applications are getting closer to consumers and becoming ‘human’. Humanity and morality have also become an inevitable instrument for marketing agencies. As advertising agencies and other companies bypass market behaviours to appeal to consumer’s moral standards and desire to fulfil social norms, how can consumers take back the concept of ‘social’?
8) A week after Charlie Hebdo’s cartoonist Luzier announced he won’t draw the Prophet Muhammad anymore, the French satire magazine was awarded the “Freedom of Expression Courage Award” by the PEN American Center. The award recognizes the freedom to offend as a basic component of free speech, a concept which is increasingly challenged by governments.
9) Around the world, 3 May was celebrated as World Press Freedom Day, a day to spread awareness about freedom of the speech and prepare an appropriate environment for discussions. This year the Future Media Lab. spent the day in Brussels at the Difference Day The event tackled topics and opened several discussions on following issues; how media possess danger for journalists and cartoonists, how investigative journalism can refer to violation of human rights and also what is current status of European sections in press. Next to debates, organisers also included screening of Citizenfour; BAFTA awarded documentary about Edward Snowden. To take a peek into the discussions from the event, check out #DifferenceDay on Twitter.
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